The 2024 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships continued Saturday at Ride Rock Creek with Elite and Amateur Enduro in the morning and Downhill seeding in the afternoon.
The Enduro race kicked off at 7:30 AM. Elite Men and Elite Women raced six stages to receive their combined finishing time. The Amateur categories skipped stage four for a total of five stages. New this year, Junior Men 17-18 and Junior Women 17-18, originally scheduled to ride only five stages, could choose to complete all six stages to receive Enduro Global Ranking points.
The Pro Men were first to start at 7:30 AM, with Richie Rude (Golden, Colo.; Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) leading the way. He secured the fourth-best time on Stage 1 with a time of 2:31.2. Jack Brown (Bishop, Ga.; Dirt Camp Racing) had a strong start, winning the first two stages and finishing second in Stage 3. Although he won Stage 4, he got caught up on Stage 5, finishing 12th and losing nearly 16 seconds, which cost him his lead over Rude. Rude remained consistent across all six stages and finished with a combined time of 17:56.7 to take the top step and the National Title. Brown managed to hold onto the silver medal, trailing Rude by only 8-seconds. JT Fisher (Bellingham, Wash.; Yeti / Fox) finished just 2-seconds behind Brown, securing a podium position and the bronze medal.
Defending four-time National Champion, Amy Morrison (Carson City, Nev.; Transition Bikes/Fox/Shimano/Wtb/Endurobearings), aimed to add a fifth title to her accolades but faced strong competition. Seventeen-year-old Chloe Bear (North Bend, Wash.; Yeti/Fox Factory Development Team) and Porsha Murdock (Bend, Ore.; Specialized USA/TRP) traded wins throughout the six stages, with Bear taking time on three stages, Murdock taking time on two, and tying on Stage 3. Bear gained enough of an advantage to win the Stars and Stripes jersey, with Murdock claiming silver, only 4-seconds behind. Morrison secured the final podium spot with bronze.
Riders in the Junior 17-18 categories had the chance to gain Enduro Global Rankings points if they raced their five stages plus the pro-only Stage 4. However, Stage 4 would not count in their final accumulated time for the National Championship. Charlie Connell (Portland, Ore.; Cannondale Farm/Chris King/Smith Optics) did not win any individual stages but remained consistent, never placing lower than third on a stage, earning him the Stars and Stripes jersey. Reigning Junior Men’s 17-18 National Champion, Henry Rapinz (Boulder, Colo.; Boulder Junior Cycling), was one of eight riders who decided to add Stage 4 to his enduro run for ranking points. Not counting Stage 4, he set a combined time of 16:48.5, which was good enough for silver, a mere 1-second behind Connell. Gunner Johnson (Mesa, Ariz.) did not add Stage 4 but rode consistently over his five stages to take bronze.
In the Junior Women’s 17-18 category, Pella Ward (Telluride, Colo.) had a solid day, winning every stage to claim gold with a total time of 19:32.8. Maraid Johnson (Morgantown, W.Va.; Cycle Strategies) took silver with a time of 22:01.3, and Ella Easton (Boulder, Colo.; Boulder Junior Cycling/Hood Wrench Cycles/World Class Academy) rounded out the podium with bronze at 25:35.9.
Riders in the amateur categories posted impressive times during the day. Ian Schwing (Catonsville, Md.; B Team) in the Men’s 19-29 category set the fastest time over five stages with a total time of 17:15.5, winning the National Title. For the women, Opal Barber (Durango, Colo.; VanLAB Durango) clocked the fastest total time at 20:12.5, earning her the gold medal in the Junior Women’s 15-16.
Elite Men:
Richie Rude (Golden, Colo.; Yeti / Fox Factory Race Team) at 17:56.7
Elite Women:
Chloe Bear (North Bend, Wash.; Yeti/Fox Factory Development Team) at 22:15.2
Junior Men 13-14:
Hudson Nablo (Haddam Neck, Conn.) at 17:42.2
Junior Women 13-14:
Camille Culberston (Zion Crossroads, Va.; Take Aim) at 22:15.8
Junior Men 15-16:
Tristan Healey (Middletown, R.I.; Carrabassett Valley Academy) at 17:28.6
Junior Women 15-16:
Opal Barber (Durango, Colo.; VanLAB Durango) at 20:12.5
Junior Men 17-18:
Charlie Connell (Portland, Ore.; Cannondale Farm/Chris King/Smith Optics) at 16:47.5
Junior Women 17-18:
Pella Ward (Telluride, Colo.) at 19.32.8
Amateur Men 19-29:
Ian Schwing (Catonsville, Md.; B Team) at 17:15.5
Amateur Women 19-29:
Madison Lee (Blacksburg, Va.; Cycle Strategies) at 21:33.0
Masters Men 30-39:
Ethan Flanigan (Clarksburg, W.Va.; Rocky Mountain/Stone Tower Coffee/Voler) at 17:48.1
Masters Women 30-39:
Michelle Guy (Reading, Mass.; Outer Limits Racing/Crawler Coffee) at 22:30.0
Masters Men 40-49:
Petr Hanak (Winter Park, Colo.; Elevated Roofs) at 17:49.1
Masters Women 40-49:
Louise Carelsen (Charlottesville, Va.; Crozet Bicycle Shop) at 26:07.2
Masters Men 50-59:
Michael Broderick (Chlimark, Mass.; @markandmaryride) at 18:50.3
Masters Women 50-59:
Mary McConneloug (Chilmark, Mass.; @markandmaryride) at 23:30.8
Masters Men 60+:
Troy Zimmerman (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.: Zboys Racing) at 22:58.2
The afternoon was all about downhill, with a total of 238 riders starting in the seeding round for tomorrow’s finals. With dry and fast conditions, the crowd wondered if a time of 1:50 was possible for the elite riders, but it wouldn’t be the case today. Reigning National Champion, Luca Shaw (Pisgah Forest, N.C.; Canyon CLLCTV Factory), was the first elite male to drop. Shaw rode a casual run, coming in with his hands off the bars and posting a 2:05.63, good enough for the 25th spot. Austin Dooley (Yucaipa, Calif.; Commencal Schwalbe/Monster Army/Ryno Power/Better Bolts) had the fastest time of the day with a 1:54.17. Nipping at Dooley’s heels was Ryan Pinkerton (Aliso Viejo, Calif.; Mondraker Factory Racing), laying down a 1:54.31 for the second spot. Junior sensation, Asa Vermette (Durango, Colo.; Frameworks Racing), clocked a 1:54.61, putting him third.
In the Women’s Elite, Anna Newkirk (Riehen, Switzerland; Beyond Racing) returned from Europe to defend her National Title, posting a 2:06.67 in qualifications. Nearly identical to 2023 qualifications, Newkirk put 8-seconds into Kailey Skelton (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; Ari Factory Racing), who laid down a 2:14.43. Abby Ronca (Bethlehem, Pa.; Evolve Racing) landed in the third spot with a 2:21.47.
For full downhill seeding results, click here.
Spectating is FREE and encouraged! The 2024 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships concludes on Sunday with the Elite and Amateur Downhill finals.
Rider results for the 2024 USA Cycling Gravity Mountain Bike National Championships can be found here.
Photo By: Nick Robertson
