Riley and Blunk Win Elite XCC Titles at the 2026 Endurance Mountain Bike Nationals

The third day of racing at the 2026 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships brought high-speed and heated action to downtown Roanoke. The Junior Men and Women 15-16 and the Junior Men 17-18 qualifiers were the first events to take place in the morning, with riders vying for the last available spots in the XCC finals for each respective category. Afternoon racing featured the Junior and Under-23 finals. The Elite Men and Women closed out the evening.

The final race of the evening featured the deepest fields of the day as many of the riders recently returned to the U.S. after racing the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Andorra, where Bjorn Riley (Boulder, Colo.; Scott-SRAM MTB Racing) took top honors in the XCC. All eyes were on last year’s UCI Mountain Bike Elite Men’s XCO and XCC Overall Champion Christopher Blevins (Durango, Colo.; Specialized Racing), two-time defending XCC National Champion Riley, and 2024 Paris Olympian Riley Amos (Boulder, Colo.; Scott-SRAM MTB Racing). 

Riders charged up the first climb, battling for position. During the first half of the race, the favorites marked each move, keeping the race close. Braydon Johnson (Littleton, Colo.; Allied Cycle Works) launched the first significant attack, but it was reeled back in two laps later, where Blevins took control of the pace. With two laps left, it was time for Riley to attack. He quickly gained an advantage over the field. Blevins clawed his way back to Riley by the bell lap and countered. Riley was able to respond, and the two fought shoulder-to-shoulder all the way to the finish straight. In an exciting drag race to the line, Riley narrowly edged Blevins to defend the Stars and Stripes jersey for another year. Ivan Sippy (Durango, Colo.; Team Segment 28 p/b Baird), the reigning 2025 Collegiate Mountain Bike XCO and XCC Varsity National Champion, sprinted to third, nipping Amos at the line. 

After his race, Riley said, “I just went back-to-back in the XCC, battling Riley and Chris. It was hot, it was wild, really happy to be able to back it all up. I will say, for Nationals, this crowd is massive; it’s super sick. This course is super fun, it’s super flowy, every single corner is super loose, so you really have to be on your game. But maybe that’s what makes it fun, you really have to be fully locked in and there’s no time where you can zone out.”

Results:

1. Bjorn Riley (Boulder, Colo.; Scott-SRAM MTB Racing)

2. Christopher Blevins (Durango, Colo.; Specialized Racing)

3. Ivan Sippy (Durango, Colo.; Team Segment 28 p/b Baird)

Eleven of the country’s top riders toed the line for the Elite Women’s race. Riders paced themselves in the opening laps, with a few early attacks to test the legs. With five laps remaining, Crystal Anthony (Bentonville, Ark.; Flow Formulas/Kenda/The Black Bibs) launched a dangerous attack, stringing out the field and putting some riders in the red. Soon after, defending National Champion Savilia Blunk (Inverness, Calif.; Decathlon Ford Racing) countered coming out of the rock garden, with only Gwendalyn Gibson (Ramona, Calif.; Trek - Unbroken) able to match the acceleration. Blunk continued her momentum, adding to her advantage each lap, while Gibson settled into second. With a comfortable lead heading into the final corner, Blunk took time to celebrate on her way to the line, soaking in her second XCC national title. Gibson crossed the line in second, with Anthony earning bronze after a solid ride.

When asked about her race, Blunk replied, “I kind of attacked in the middle of the race in the technical parts and just committed from there. It was really nice to have my mechanic and my fiancée on course just telling me to commit one hundred percent. We had four laps to go still, so it was a bit far out. But really nice to have home country and hometown fans here; it’s a really nice welcome home after two months in Europe.”

Results:

1. Savilia Blunk (Inverness, Calif.; Decathlon Ford Racing)

2. Gwendalyn Gibson (Ramona, Calif.; Trek - Unbroken)

3. Crystal Anthony (Bentonville, Ark.; Flow Formulas/Kenda/The Black Bibs)

In one of the most anticipated events of the day, 55 Under-23 Men lined up for their 20-minute race. The opening laps were filled with constant attacks, but nothing significant enough to stick. Jack Spranger (Sammamish, Wash.), along with riders from TRINITY Racing and Bear National Team, traded pulls at the front. As the race continued, the pace increased, and tensions ran high as riders began rubbing wheels and bumping shoulders. On the last lap, a Bear National Team rider was forced to put a foot down on the climb, opening the door for four riders to break clear. The race came down to a photo finish sprint between Nicholas Konecny (Breckenridge, Colo.; Lexware Mountain Bike Team) and Dan English (San Ramon, Calif.; TRINITY Racing), with Konecny pushing it across the line first to secure the win. Spranger rounded out the podium in third. 

“It was good to get another race back with the U.S. boys here in Roanoke; it’s always super strong racing,” said Konecny. “It’s a super big honor to be able to claim the championship. It’s not like a clear course for anyone; it’s just a lot of tactics and finding the right place at the right time and holding it to the end.”

Results:

1. Nicholas Konecny (Breckenridge, Colo.; Lexware Mountain Bike Team)

2. Dan English (San Ramon, Calif.; TRINITY Racing) 

3. Jack Spranger (Sammamish, Wash.)

The Under-23 Women’s race treated spectators to an impressive show of strength and tactics by Greta Kilburn (Burlington, Vt.; Bicycle Express Racing) as she held her own against a dominant Bear National Team squad. The race of 22 starters split apart early on, with seven riders from Bear National Team setting the pace at the front, with Kilburn in the mix. As the race unfolded, the lead group of eight continued to whittle down. In the closing laps, the battle came down to Kilburn and Bear National teammates Alice Hoskins (Charlottesville, Va.; Bear National Team) and Elisabeth Knight (Moab, Utah; Bear National Team). On the bell lap, Kilburn delivered a final, decisive attack, opening up a small advantage over the two chasers, and earning herself the Stars and Stripes jersey. Hoskins and Knight finished second and third, respectively. 

“This win is my first-ever National Championship. It was so much fun to get to race with other U23’s out there, they’re so strong,” said Kilburn. “I just got back from racing in Europe for a month, and it’s so cool to be part of USA Cycling. They have the best sport across seas, and then you come back here, and it’s some amazing competition, too. Really strong program, I’m so grateful for that.” 

Results:

1. Greta Kilburn (Burlington, Vt.; Bicycle Express Racing)

2. Alice Hoskins (Charlottesville, Va.; Bear National Team)

3. Elisabeth Knight (Moab, Utah; Bear National Team)

Forty-eight Junior Men 17-18 wasted no time accelerating off the start line and charging towards corner one. The pace remained high throughout the race, keeping the pressure on the teams, offering little chance for riders to break away. The winning move came through the rock garden, where last year’s Junior Men’s 15-16 XCC National Champion, Noah Scholnick (Williamsport, Penn.; Bear National Team) chose a rarely taken alternate line, allowing him to gain the lead and a small advantage going into the downhill section. Scholnick was able to hold his lead across the finish line by a one-second margin to add the Junior Men’s 17-18 national title to his impressive palmarès. Myles Perry (Draper, Utah; Rouleur Devo/Giant) outsprinted a charging Charles Thomas (Reno, Nev.; WE Development) for silver. 

When Scholnick was asked about his win, he said, “This one means a lot to me. It feels incredible to get the win here after all the struggles throughout the season. I didn’t have the best start to my season, developed some back pain early on, and have been working really hard to get that fixed. It really means a lot for me to pull this off here in Roanoke.”

Results:

1. Noah Scholnick (Williamsport, Penn.; Bear National Team)

2. Myles Perry (Draper, Utah; Rouleur Devo/Giant)

3. Charles Thomas (Reno, Nev.; WE Development)

In one of the largest fields of the day, 55 of the top Junior Women 17-18 took to the line. From the whistle, a blistering tempo was set by Payette Spangenberg (McCall, Idaho; Wild Rockies Racing) for a significant portion of the race. Attacks began in the closing laps, which caused the field to splinter under the pressure. With two laps remaining, Scout Wellmeier (Corte Madera, Calif.; Bear National Team) accelerated hard out of the field, with teammate Nora Kruse (Flagstaff, Ariz.; Bear National Team) in tow for only a couple of corners. Wellmeier continued to add to her advantage, proving her excellent technical skills and speed, and inevitably crossing the line to win the national title. Kruse used the momentum from the attack to hold onto second place, with Anna Keller (American Fork, Utah; Spry DRT) finishing only seconds behind to secure bronze.  

Wellmeier, who recently claimed the Junior Women’s 17-18 Road Race National Title at the 2026 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships, reflected on her achievement today, saying, “I’ve been chasing a mountain bike national title since probably 2020, since I started racing, and this has been a huge goal of mine. All of the work and support of my coaches, parents, team, and everyone who has played a role in my development – thank you for that!” 

Results:

1. Scout Wellmeier (Corte Madera, Calif.; Bear National Team)

2. Nora Kruse (Flagstaff, Ariz.; Bear National Team)

3. Anna Keller (American Fork, Utah; Spry DRT)

The morning qualifiers offered a glimpse of what was to come in the Junior Men’s 15-16 race. Forty-eight riders hammered through the opening laps, stretching the field out, and causing gaps to open quickly. The blistering pace continued until a group of seven leaders formed. The lead group dwindled down to only a handful of riders by the closing laps. At the end, it all came down to a two-up sprint between Greyson Wimberley (Gravette, Ark.; Oz Racing) and Isaac Sproule (Medical Lake, Wash.; Team Booger), with Wimberley taking top honors and the Stars and Stripes jersey. Reid Peifer (Granite Bay, Calif.; Bear National Team) secured bronze. 

Results:

1. Greyson Wimberley (Gravette, Ark.; Oz Racing)

2. Isaac Sproule (Medical Lake, Wash.; Team Booger)

3. Reid Peifer (Granite Bay, Calif.; Bear National Team)

4. Luke Johnson (Waukesha, Wis.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team)

5. Jack Abel (Portland, Ore.; Team Bear Devo)

Following stacked heats in their morning qualifiers, 49 riders ultimately took to the dusty course for the Junior Women’s 15-16 final. Bear National Team quickly took control of the pace, and as the lap card counted down, a lead group of five formed at the front. In that lead group, sisters and teammates, Anna and Leah Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Bear National Team), executed an impressive strategy in the final laps. Leah sacrificed her chances at gold and attacked the group, forcing the rest of the riders to respond. Once caught with two to go, Anna launched a countermove, opening up a sizeable gap. Anna soloed in for the win with plenty of time to celebrate. Zoe Leclair (Cottonwood Heights, Utah; Rouleur Devo p/b DNA Cycling) held on to second in the sprint, with Annabelle Sackett (Santa Clarita, Calif.; Accel Cycling) capturing third place.

Morozowich was excited after racing, saying, “The race went great. I got a good start, and it was a group of about five girls, so we just stayed together the whole time. Then, with two laps to go, I got a little bit of a gap, and I was able to stay away for the rest of the race. This is very special.”

Results:

1. Anna Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Bear National Team)

2. Zoe Leclair (Cottonwood Heights, Utah; Rouleur Devo p/b DNA Cycling)

3. Annabelle Sackett (Santa Clarita, Calif.; Accel Cycling)

4. Leah Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Bear National Team)

5. Annika Burns (Spokane, Wash.; Team Booger)

Full results from Thursday’s events can be found here.

Racing moves to Explore Park on Friday for the first of three days of XCO events. Click here for the full event schedule.

Photo credit: SnowyMountain Photography