Day two of the 2025 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships brought the Cat 1 Dual Slalom Finals to Big Bear! The race was on for the coveted Stars and Stripes sleeve alongside the Monster Energy Pro Downhill Series.
Ellis Bates (Durango, Colo.; Oakley, Fasthouse, Fox Factory) went fastest in seeding, but Grayson Novak (Las Vegas, N.V.; Zeronine/ Box Components) was able to come back strong in the finals to claim the win. Wade Heater (Murrieta, Calif.; Seven/Wrench and Roll/Timmons Wood Products) took the bronze medal.
1. Grayson Novak (Las Vegas, N.V.; Zeronine/ Box Components)
2. Ellis Bates (Durango, Colo; Oakley, Fasthouse, Fox Factory)
3. Wade Heater (Murrieta, Calif.; Seven/Wrench and Roll/Timmons Wood Products)
Top seed Kaden Jaquias (Danville, Calif.; Sycip / Devout Coffee) looked dominant early, but Kole Compton (Minden, N.V.; South Shore Bicycles, Sensus, Deity Components) rode with confidence and consistency to take the title. Ellis Tahi Kinikini(Salt Lake City, Utah) took the win in his bracket to get the bronze medal.
1. Kole Compton (Minden, N.V.; South Shore Bicycles, Sensus, Deity Components)
2. Kaden Jaquias (Danville, Calif.; Sycip / Devout Coffee)
3. Ellis Tahi Kinikini (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Tyler Wagoner (Canyon Lake, Calif.; Intense) backed up his top qualifying time with commanding runs in every round. He held off a strong charge from Eli Bundy (Fort Collins, Colo.; Outlaw Commencal Factory Development) in the final to earn the national title. Connor Knipscheer (Yucaipa, Calif.; Schwalbe, Fox, TLD) put on a strong race as well to win the consolation round. These junior men were the only riders to get their lap times under the 26-second mark for the day.
1. Tyler Wagoner (Canyon Lake, Calif.; Intense)
2. Eli Bundy (Fort Collins, Colo.; Outlaw Commencal Factory Development)
3. Connor Knipscheer (Yucaipa, Calif.; Schwalbe, Fox, TLD)
Sara Ligman (Huntington Beach, Calif.; Monster Army, Schwalbe, ODI) was locked in from the start and went on to take the top step of the podium against Alyana van Horn (Medford, Ore.; Specialized, Savage Factory Connection) who was second in qualifying and went on to take the silver in finals.
1. Sara Ligman (Huntington Beach, Calif.; Monster Army, Schwalbe, ODI)
2. Alyana van Horn (Medford, Ore.; Specialized, Savage Factory Connection)
3. Peyton Lee (Hurricane, Utah; Outlaw, Commencal, Maxxis)
Aidan Rowell (Littleton, Colo.; SBR, Commencal, SunBum) was one of the strongest riders on course setting fast times from qualifying, all the way into finals, taking a commanding win against Zack Day (Greenville, Wisc.; DSend Gravity Racing) who rode to the silver medal.
1. Aidan Rowell (Littleton, Colo.; SBR, Commencal, SunBum)
2. Zack Day (Greenville, Wisc.; DSend Gravity Racing)
3. Jonah Freedman (Adamstown, Md.; 100%, Maxxis, Fox Factory)
It was a tight battle between Ronnie Vance (Esmont, Va.; EXT Suspension, Take Aim Cycling, Handup Co.) and Matson Hunter (Lake Forest, Calif.) with Vance winning round one, and Hunter winning round two. In the end, Vance was able to edge out Hunter to win the National title.
1. Ronnie Vance (Esmont, Va.; EXT Suspension, Take Aim Cycling, Handup Co.)
2. Matson Hunter (Lake Forest, Calif.)
Petr Hanak (Fraser, Colo.; Elevated Roofs) charged to victory in the 40+ final edging out Kevin Liebig (Havre de Grac, Md.; Racers Edge, Brutal Engineering, Fox) to take the win. Jesse Borror (Morgantown, W.Va.; Fox Factory, Maxxis, Magura) rounded out the podium in third.
1. Petr Hanak (Fraser, Colo.; Elevated Roofs)
2. Kevin Liebig (Havre de Grac, Md.; Racers Edge, Brutal Engineering, Fox)
3. Jesse Borror (Morgantown, W.Va.; Fox Factory, Maxxis, Magura)
Adia Annibella (Arvada, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Racing) laid down some of the fastest runs for the women today to secure the Cat 1 National Title. Lindsay Nelson (Big Bear City, Calif.) put up a strong fight and took home silver on her home track.
1. Adia Annibella (Arvada, Colo.; Rocky Mountain Racing)
2. Lindsay Nelson (Big Bear City, Calif.)
Non-Championship Dual Slalom results can be found here.
136 of the best downhill racers in the country took on their seeding runs today for the Elite and Junior 17-18 Men, along with the Elite and Junior 17-18 Women. The top qualifiers of the day were Cole Suetos (Loudon, Tenn.; Insta360 ZFR) and Kailey Skelton (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; Ari Factory Racing).
Find the complete results, here.
Tomorrow is all about the downhill racers. The rest of the Cat 1 racers will take on their seeding runs at 1:45pm PT, then it’s time for the Pro Finals to close out the evening.
