The 2024 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships returned to Ride Rock Creek in Zirconia, North Carolina for its second year. Over the next three days, Ride Rock Creek will host over 500 riders competing for National Titles in Dual Slalom, Enduro, and Downhill.
After a hot and humid morning, a heavy storm battered the venue on Thursday afternoon, soaking the dual slalom track and forcing the organizers to cancel the non-championship dual slalom finals. The mountain staff worked quickly to preserve the track for Friday’s events. The track dried out through the day making for fast lines and exciting racing.
Last year’s Junior Men’s 15-18 National Champion, Nathan Kitchen (Bakersfield, Calif.; Gravity Collective/RAAW/Monster Army), now competing in the Elite category, posted some of the fastest qualifying times of the day. World-champion downhill racer and Ride Rock Creek founder, Neko Mullaly (Pisgah Forest, N.C.; Frameworks Racing), had a strong first run but faltered in his second, ending up as the number 11 seed after qualifications. Despite this, Mullaly used his home-field advantage to advance to the big finals against Kitchen. Nikolas Nestoroff (San Marcos, Calif.; Ari Factory Racing) secured the number two seed but was pushed into the small final by Mullaly in the semi-finals, and eventually finished with the bronze medal. The big final was a tight race between Kitchen and Mullaly. Kitchen took the first run, but Mullaly kept it close. Although Mullaly pushed hard in the second run, he fell just thousandths-of-a-second short, with Kitchen claiming the Elite National Title.
Sixteen-year-old talent, Teagan Heap (Boulder City, Nev.; Pivot Factory Racing, Monster Army, Adidas|510), suffered an ankle injury early in the day but managed to reach the big final against defending Elite Dual Slalom National Champion, Kale Cushman (Old Town, Maine; Gravity Collective). Going into the big final, Heap was at a disadvantage and unable to keep up with Cushman, who went on to win her second Elite National Title. After grabbing the number one seed in qualifications, Caitlyn Farmer (Atlanta, Ga.; Fly Racing/Ryno Power/ODI) was bested by Cushman in the semi-finals, which moved her to the small final where she finished third, earning the bronze medal.
In a replay of 2023, Ryder Lawrence (Menifee, Calif.; Intense Factory Racing) again set the fastest qualifying times, securing the number one seed. However, he faltered in the semi-finals, moving him into the small final. Number three seed, Alexander Blanar (Eagle, Colo.), and number five seed, Gavin Tomlinson (Burbank, Calif.; The Gravity Collective), had strong runs all day which advanced them both to the big final. After a hard-fought battle, Tomlinson took the top step and the National Title.
The Amateur categories were the first to take to the track for qualifying sessions on Friday morning. As the track dried throughout the day, the blue course proved to be faster higher up, while the red course was faster towards the end. Eli Bundy (Fort Collins, Colo.; Outlaw Bike Team) and Jack Sharples (Boone, N.C.; Maxxis / 100% / App State Cycling / ODI) posted impressive run times in the Junior Men’s 13-14 and the Men’s 19-29 categories, respectively, each going on to win National Titles in their age groups. In the Women’s 19+ category, Margaret Griggs (Washington, Ga.; Dirt Shredders) posted the fastest run times during the qualifiers and went on to win gold in the final. Luke Mallen (Sandy, Utah; Commencal/Outlaw/ Monster Army/Leatt/TRP/Deity/Sensus/Forge& Bond/Salt Cycles) had solid runs throughout the day and would take home the Stars and Stripes jersey in the Junior Men’s 15-16 category.
Elite Men:
Nathan Kitchen (Bakersfield, Calif.; Gravity Collective/RAAW/Monster Army)
Elite Women:
Kale Cushman (Old Town, Maine; Gravity Collective)
Junior Men 11-12:
Shun Boisvert (Markham, Mont.)
Junior Men 13-14:
Eli Bundy (Fort Collins, Colo.; Outlaw Bike Team)
Junior Men 15-16:
Luke Mallen (Sandy, Utah; Commencal/Outlaw/Monster Army/Leatt/TRP/Deity/Sensus/Forge& Bond/Salt Cycles)
Junior Men 17-18:
Gavin Tomlinson (Burbank, Calif.; The Gravity Collective)
Women 19+:
Margaret Griggs (Washington, Ga.; Dirt Shredders)
Amateur Men 19-29 Cat 1:
Jack Sharples (Boone, N.C.; Maxxis / 100% / App State Cycling / ODI)
Masters Men 30-39 Cat 1:
Michael Noble (Gwinn, Mich.; Quick Stop Bike Shop)
Masters Men 40+ Cat 1:
Petr Hanak (Winter Park, Colo.; Elevated Roofs)
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Spectating is FREE and encouraged! Starting Saturday morning at 7:30 AM, Elite riders will tackle six enduro stages and Amateur categories will race five stages. The racing will continue in the afternoon with Elite and Amateur Downhill seeding. Downhill finals will take place on Sunday morning with the first rider off at 11:15 AM.
Rider results for the 2024 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships can be found here.
Photo By: Nick Robertson
