After months of heated battles that began in September at race one of the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Series, America’s top cyclists will vie for Stars and Stripes jerseys at the Cyclocross National Championships on December 12-15 at Joe Creason Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
Elite Men and Women, U23s, and Juniors 17-18 are the focus of Saturday’s racing, while Thursday, Friday, and Sunday feature Masters, Collegiate, Juniors 11-16, Singlespeed, Relays, and Non-Binary, along with the Champions Race and a host of non-championship categories that are open to all.
While registration is still underway, this year’s CX National Series offers a glimpse into what the National Championship might bring.
The Elite Men’s race promises to be close, with the current top four in the Cyclocross National Series – Andrew Strohmeyer (CXD Trek Bikes), Scott Funston (Cervèlo/Orange Living), Kerry Werner, Jr., (Groove Off Road Racing) and Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation) – looking to stop defending National Champion and four-time Pan Am champion Eric Brunner (Competitive Edge Racing) from a repeat win.
Multi-time champion Katie Clouse (Steve Tilford Foundation) is the top-ranked (3rd) American in the CX National Series among Elite Women and placed 2nd at last year’s National Championship behind now-retired Clara Honsinger. Clouse’s teammate Raylyn Nuss (Steve Tilford Foundation) is also a strong contender for this Elite Women’s race.
Defending National Champion Jack Spranger (Bear CX) heads up the U23 Men’s category, along with Dylan Zakrajsek (Competitive Edge Racing), who placed 2nd last year. They’ll be joined on the course by former top Juniors Henry Coote (Competitive Edge Racing) and Miles Mattern (CXD Trek Bikes).
In the U23 Women’s race, look for Pan American Champion Lauren Zoerner (Competitive Edge Racing) ranked 8th in the Cyclocross National Series, and 9th-ranked Kaya Musgrave (Cervèlo/Orange Living) to battle it out, along with 2023 Collegiate Club National Champion Katherine Sarkisov (CXD Trek Bikes).
For the Junior Women’s 17-18 race, look for Lidia Cusack (CXD Trek Bikes), who won the Junior Women’s race on week 10 of the National Series, then placed 2nd a few hours later in the Elite Women’s race. And watch for Alyssa White (FinKraft Junior Cycling, 2nd at last year’s Nationals), Alyssa Sarkisov (CXD Trek Bikes, 5th last year), Ada Watson (CXD Trek Bikes), and Rachel Lev-Tov (Boulder Junior Cycling).
With more than 50 cyclists already registered, the Junior Men’s 17-18 race should be supercompetitive and entertaining. The race will feature top finishers from the 2023 National Championship and the 2024 CX National Series, including Benjamin Bravman (Bear National Team), Jack Bernhard (FinKraft Junior Cycling), Dylan Haynes (Boulder Junior Cycling), Porter Melvin (Team Stampede), and Aidan Vollmuth (FinKraft Junior Racing).
Whether you’re racing, watching, or both, here is everything you’ll need to know for a great four days in Louisville.
Register here: https://cxnats.usacycling.org/registration
Online registration closes on December 5. On-site registration is available, but fees increase. Online reg is encouraged!
Non-championship races are on the schedule and open to the public! All you’ll need is a USA Cycling Race membership to participate.
New this year is Sunday’s Champions Race. National Champions can participate for free. Cyclists can register on-site and it’s a way for nearly anyone to compete with the pros and other National Champions.
A free, livestreamed pre-race show airs Friday, December 13 at 2 pm ET. On Course with USA Cycling: Presented by goodr, features a course preview plus athlete interviews, and streams on USA Cycling’s YouTube channel.
Junior 17-18, U23, and Elite races will be livestreamed on FloBikes on Saturday, December 14. Watch live here.
The course (map here) is similar to last year’s National Championship with a few new sections, including a bowl for more elevation gain plus added technical climbing.
Besides the start/finish, spectators should check out ‘The Mansion,’ a historic home that the course circles around, and the fly-over, with stair steps and a platform that racers cross.
Also check out food vendors, a beer garden, and loads of cycling gear at the expo all weekend.
Join us Saturday and Sunday behind the mansion at the iconic stone steps for an unforgettable celebration of cyclocross and fun!
For more information, go to: https://cxnats.usacycling.org/
