The second annual 2024 USA Cycling Gravel National Championships kicked off on Sunday morning in downtown Gering, Nebraska. In total, 42 separate categories competed for the opportunity to earn a gravel National Title across four different courses: 131.1 miles, 88.2 miles, 56.9 miles, and 24.8 miles. With a $40,000 prize purse on the line, the elite fields were loaded with top gravel talent.
In an exciting race on Sunday, a breakout group of six riders took the lead through checkpoint one – Griffin Easter (Park City, Utah; OpiCure Foundation Gravel Team p/b Canyon Bicycles) Dylan Johnson (Brevard, N.C.; Felt UN1TD), Colby Simmons (Durango, Colo.; Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Michael Garrison (Decatur, Ga.; MGR p/b NICH SpeedClub), Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz, Calif.; Santa Cruz SRAM htSQD), and Matthew Koenig (Santa Cruz, Calif.; Team Mike's Bikes powered by Equator Coffees) – with two leaders initially gaining a 15-second advantage over the field of 49 riders. At the 100-mile mark, Innokenty Zavyalov (Minneapolis, Minn.; Mazda - Orange Seal) held a one-minute lead over the chase group of 12 riders. The solo rider was eventually caught, and the field consolidated to 13 riders. However, the pace broke the group apart, reducing it to just eight riders with 10 kilometers to go. Keegan Swenson (Midway, Utah; Santa Cruz Bicycles/SRAM) made a bold move at Cemetery Road, but the pack regrouped a few kilometers from the finish line. In the last two kilometers, Brennan Wertz (Mill Valley, Calif.; Mosaic Cycles) executed the plan he had going into the race. With a perfectly timed, all-out effort, Wertz sprinted across the line just seconds ahead of the chase group, securing his first-ever Gravel National Title. “I knew with my size and power I didn’t have the legs for a long-range attack... a 10 kilometer attack was out of the question today. I didn’t have any snap in my legs today after being sick. I was really hoping I could sneak away one to two kilometers from the finish, so I put all my chips on the table on that move at the end and it paid off.”
“I went all in with my setup. I took a couple risks. I went with a superfast setup, super slick tires, big road gears and I knew that the finish this year really suited me well. For me the goal was to just make it to that last two kilometers and then see what I could do from there. It was a big gamble, I really put all my chips on the table and went all on in that strategy,” continued Wertz.
When asked about how it felt to race with the best athletes from around the nation in yesterday’s National Championship he said, “It’s so special to get to race with all the U.S. guys. A lot of us have been racing together for a handful of years now, so it feels a little bit like a family reunion... It’s cool to see that the scene is being recognized by USA Cycling and has its own National Championship.”
1. Brennan Wertz (Mill Valley, Calif.; Mosaic Cycles)
2. John Borstelmann (San Luis Obispo, Calif.; Slowtwitch Goodlife Racing/Ventum/Voler)
3. Colby Simmons (Durango, Colo.; Team Visma | Lease a Bike)
4. Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Trek Driftless)
5. Griffin Easter (Park City, Utah; OpiCure Foundation Gravel Team p/b Canyon Bicycles)
A lead group of 12 riders formed early in the women's race as they passed through checkpoint two, but by the halfway point, the race saw a three-person breakaway, which expanded to four leaders at checkpoint three. This group was made up of Paige Onweller (Bella Vista, Ark.; Trek Driftless), Lauren De Crescenzo (Boulder Colo.; Factor / The Feed / Maxxis / Castelli / PERC), Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas; Cynisca Cycling), and Alexis Skarda (Grand Junction, Colo.; Santa Cruz Bicycles SRAM). At the 100-mile mark, Stephens had taken the lead with a 25-second advantage over Skarda and De Crescenzo. On the last climb of the race, Stephens put in a big attack and rode off the front, establishing a 45-second lead, a gap she grew until the finish where she crossed in first. This is Stephens’ second time winning the Elite Women’s race at Gravel Nationals.
When asked about her winning strategy, Stephens shared, “I was just focusing on putting an attack in on the last climb. I made my attack on the steepest part and knew straight away that I got a decent gap."
Now that the event is in its second year, riders arrived with a better idea of what to expect and could come into the event more prepared. Stephens felt more confident and ready, saying, “It was an awesome day... I was a lot less nervous this year than last year. I think there were a lot more unknowns...I was calmer coming into today having done it last year. At 500-meters I just started soaking it all in. It’s really exciting to get to wear the Stars and Stripes for another year.”
1. Lauren Stephens (Dallas, Texas; Cynisca Cycling)
2. Lauren De Crescenzo (Boulder Colo.; Factor / The Feed / Maxxis / Castelli / PERC)
3. Paige Onweller (Bella Vista, Ark.; Trek Driftless)
4. Alexis Skarda (Grand Junction, Colo.; Santa Cruz Bicycles SRAM)
5. Cecily Decker (Santa Fe, N.M.; Scuderia Pinarello)
Amateur racers who completed the full 131-mile course included participants in the following categories: Men’s and Women’s Singlespeed, 19-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, and Non-Binary. Newly crowned National Champions included Thomas Fuller (Redlands, Calif.; iSpeed Felt/Big Wheel Coaching) in Men’s 19-34, Colleen Maher (Brevard, N.C.; Gravelo Workshop) in Women’s 19-34, Lei Liu (San Jose, Calif.; Moonshine Racing) in Men’s 35-39, Alexandria Benda (Fredericksburg, Va.; PCPC / Sweet Protection) in Women’s 35-39, Jurd Hurd (Los Altos Hills, Calif.; Turbo) in Men’s 40-44, Tom Danielson (Longmont, Colo.; CINCH Cycling) in Men’s 45-49, Terry Moore (Albuquerque, N.M.; Nero Veloce p/b Michael Thomas Coffee) in Women’s 45-49, Anthony Hardwick (Castle Pines, Colo.; Jack the Bike Man - A Kids Bike Charity) in Men’s Singlespeed, Casandra Dickerson (Tulsa, Okla.; Team isocentric) in Women’s Singlespeed, and Em Bhoo (Alexandria, Va.; Dirty Kitten Racing) in Non-Binary.
1. Thomas Fuller (Redlands, Calif.; iSpeed Felt/Big Wheel Coaching)
2. Max Abner (Greenville, S.C.; NGCA Elite p/b Tyler Perry Studios)
3. RJ Marsan (San Rafael, Calif.; Super Sprinkles p/b Fatcake)
4. Matthew Saldana (Salinas, Calif.)
5. Jack Spang (Seaside, Calif.)
1. Colleen Maher (Brevard, N.C.; Gravelo Workshop)
2. Danielle Estenssoro (Snowmass Village, Colo.; Cinch Cycling)
3. Morgan Folchert (Summerset, S.D.)
4. Amelia Durst (Avon, Colo.)
5. Bryn Brendamour (Carbondale, Colo.)
1. Lei Liu (San Jose, Calif.; Moonshine Racing)
2. Michael Palmer (Las Vegas, N.M.; Canyon Chiropractic)
3. David Griffin (Rio Rancho, N.M.; NERO VELOCE p/b Michael Thomas Coffee)
4. Kenn Pike (Sioux Falls; S.D.)
5. Kevin Reagin (Woodstock, Ga.; North Georgia Cycling Association)
1. Alexandria Benda (Fredericksburg, Va.; PCPC / Sweet Protection)
2. Deana Kelley (Williamsport, Md.; Natural Grocers Cycling)
1. Jurd Hurd (Los Altos Hills, Calif.; Turbo)
2. Coulton Hartrich (Marmato, UNK)
3. David Sachs (Boulder, Colo.; BJC)
4. Mat Stephens (Dallas, Texas; Lauf/Cafe du Cycliste/Panaracer/Arundel)
5. Ulisses Abbud (Miami Beach, Fla.; Time Bikes - LaMaglia - Session Components)
1. Tom Danielson (Longmont, Colo.; CINCH Cycling)
2. Simon Kessler (Longmont, Colo.; Team Cuore Test Lab)
3. Nate Clason (Grand Rapids, Mich.; Bissell ABG Cycling)
4. Andrew Knight (Marietta, Ga.; North Georgia Cycling Association)
5. Brad Day (Sonoma, Calif.)
1. Terry Moore (Albuquerque, N.M.; Nero Veloce p/b Michael Thomas Coffee)
2. Erin Reedy (Amarillo, Texas; Hill's Sports Shop)
3. Laura Henderson (Denver, Colo.)
4. Kristen Smith (San Clemente, Calif.; BagHouse)
5. Mary Breed (Arlington, Va.; District Taco Racing)
1. Anthony Hardwick (Castle Pines, Colo.; Jack the Bike Man - A Kids Bike Charity)
2. Jesse Stauffer (Selinsgrove, Pa.; 717Cycling)
3. Hart Robinson (Memphis, Tenn.; Los Locos)
4. James Allen (Mebane, N.C.; Project Echelon Racing)
1. Casandra Dickerson (Tulsa, Okla.; Team isocentric)
1. Em Bhoo (Alexandria, Va.; Dirty Kitten Racing)
The racers taking the 88.2-mile course consisted of the 17-18 Juniors, the 50-64 Masters, Para BVI, Para C4, and Para C5. Newly crowned National Champions included Michael Murphy (Albuquerque, N.M.; Team Semper Fi) and Joseph Matta(Belton, Texas) in Men’s Para BVI, Megan Fisher (Missoula, Mont.; Cannondale/ Rapha/ POC/ Kodiak Cakes) in Women’s Para C4, Kyle Pitman (Lafayette, Colo.; Project Echelon Vanguard) in Men’s Para C4, Philip Tinstman (San Marcos, Calif.; Monster Racing Cadence Cyclery) in Men’s 50-54, Cherell Jordin (Holladay, Utah) in Women’s 50-54, Patrick Warner (Boulder, Colo.; Team Cuore Test Lab) in Men’s 55-59, Tracey Jacobs (Boulder, Colo.; Groove Subaru/Excel Sports Race Team) in Women’s 55-59, Chris Carlson (Tulsa, Oklahoma; Chris Carlson Cycling Coaching) in Men’s 60-64, and Tamara Bassette (Missoula, Mont.; MTCX) in Women’s 60-64.
It was a field sprint to the finish for the Junior Men 17-18 with Oliver Welcker (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team) winning the Stars and Stripes. Alexandra Charles (Midway, Utah) took home the National Title in the Junior Women’s 17-18 race.
1. Michael Murphy (Albuquerque, N.M.; Team Semper Fi) and Joseph Matta (Belton, Texas)
1. Megan Fisher (Missoula, Mont.; Cannondale/ Rapha/ POC/ Kodiak Cakes)
1. Kyle Pitman (Lafayette, Colo.; Project Echelon Vanguard)
2. Mitch Brekke (Hartland, Minn.; Gray Duck Racing)
3. Sam Beveridge (Centennial, Colo.)
1. Oliver Welcker (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team)
2. Beckam Drake (Amarillo, Texas; Hill's Sport shop)
3. Emmett McManus (Durango, Colo.; Team Durango Segment 28)
4. Ethan Shirey (Draper, Utah; Rouleur Development)
5. Jade Rohde (Ashland, Ore.; LandShark)
1. Alexandra Charles (Midway, Utah)
2. Landrie McLain (Bella Vista, Ark.; OZ Development BMC Walmart)
3. Sara Shannon (Van Alstyne, Texas; Matrix Cycling P/b Bike Mart)
4. Rachel Pellom (Durham, N.C.; First Flight Devo)
5. Maddy Gabe (Bentonville, Ark.; Scott Family Amazeum)
1. Philip Tinstman (San Marcos, Calif.; Monster Racing Cadence Cyclery)
2. Greg Scanlan (Fort Collins, Colo.; Team Rio Grande)
3. Carlos Casali (Golden, Colo.; The Meteor)
4. Mike Barton (Hanover, N.H.; Velocio - Julbo)
5. Matthew Skrdla (Fort Collins, Colo.; Team Rio Grande)
1. Cherell Jordin (Holladay, Utah)
2. Jessica Rockson (Bella Vista, Ark.; Thaden Cycling)
3. Kristi Lindquist (Fraser, Colo.; Groove Subaru Excel Sports)
4. Sabine Bildstein (Boulder, Colo.)
5. Jonette Murphy (Rapid City, S.D.)
1. Patrick Warner (Boulder, Colo.; Team Cuore Test Lab)
2. Allen Abell (New Braunfels, Texas; The Meteor)
3. James Salatka (Encinitas, Calif.; Rouleur Brewing)
4. Timothy Zimmerman (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Z-Boyz Racing)
5. Christoph Heinrich (Salt Lake City, Utah; KUHL Cycling Team)
1. Tracey Jacobs (Boulder, Colo.; Groove Subaru/Excel Sports Race Team)
2. Denise Esposito (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.; Bikeway/Endurance WERX)
3. Stacey Barbossa (Mountainside, N.J.; Team Solutions Cycling)
4. Katie Peterson (Hendersonville, N.C.; Tempo Cyclisme)
5. Lorri Lee Lown (Capitola, Calif.; Savvy Bike)
1. Chris Carlson (Tulsa, Oklahoma; Chris Carlson Cycling Coaching)
2. Craig Hofer (Littleton, Colo.; Groove Subaru/Excel Sports)
3. Todd Brown (San Clemente, Calif.; Pedal Industries)
4. Todd Casan (Boulder, Colo.; Jones and Co.)
5. Stuart Mann (Boulder, Colo.; Wholesome)
1. Tamara Bassette (Missoula, Mont.; MTCX)
2. Gail Matherly (Longmont, Colo.; CINCH Cycling)
3. Mary Jimenez (Shrevepoint, La.; Team La’Sport)
4. Susan Mcdonough (York, Maine; Salty Women Off Road Race Team)
5. Annie Hofer (Littleton, Colo.; Groove Subaru Excel Sports)
The racers taking on the 56.9-mile course consisted of the 15-16 Juniors, the 65-75+ Masters, Para C1-C3, and Para H3-H5. Newly crowned National Champions included Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, N.C.; C4 race team) in Men’s Para C1, Allison Jones (Gladstone, Ore.; SRAM) in Women’s Para C1, Joe Pomeroy (Easley, S.C.; TiArrow Handbikes) in Para H3, Myles Perry (Draper, Utah; Rouleur Devo p/b Specialized) in Junior Men’s 15-16, Katja Opfer (Kalamazoo, Mich.; Athletic Mentors) in Junior Women’s 15-16, Stephen Crowly (Castle Pines, Colo.; Groove Subaru Excel Sports) in Men’s 65-69, Ruth Clemence (CDM, Calif.) in Women’s 65-69, Steve Johnson (Larkspur, Colo.; COS Racing) in Men’s 70-74, Kristine Johnson (Larkspur, Colo.; DNA Cycling) in Women’s 70-74, Tom Groves (Centennial, Colo.; RacerX) in Men’s 75-79, Martha Iverson (Durango, Colo.; DNA Cycling Masters) in Women’s 75-59, Ernie Borjon (Anchorage, Alaska) in Men’s 80-84, Phil Van Horn (Montecito, Calif) in Men’s 85-89, Frederic Schmid (Waco, Texas; Geri Atrix) in Men’s 90-94, and Wendy Skean (Nathrop, Colo.; Hammer. Nutrition) in Women’s 80+.
1. Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, N.C.; C4 race team)
1. Allison Jones (Gladstone, Ore.; SRAM)
1. Joe Pomeroy (Easley, S.C.; TiArrow Handbikes)
2. Daniel Wood (Norwalk, Iowa; Presto Race Team)
3. Michael Sales (Westminster, Colo.; Adaptive Adventures)
1. Myles Perry (Draper, Utah; Rouleur Devo p/b Specialized)
2. Rowan Nistal (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team)
3. Michael Ziomek (Albuquerque, N.M.; Bear National Team)
4. Carter Lembke (Columbia, Miss.; CycleX Racing)
5. Theo Dormans (Santa Clarita, Calif.; Santa Clarita Mountain Bike Team)
1. Katja Opfer (Kalamazoo, Mich.; Athletic Mentors)
2. Kira Mullins (Littleton, Colo,; Bear National Team)
3. Madison Lee (Frisco, Texas)
1. Stephen Crowly (Castle Pines, Colo.; Groove Subaru Excel Sports)
2. Jay Trojan (Cumberland, R.I.; Arc En Ciel Racing Team)
3. Frank Winters (Susanville, Calif.; Clean Power Cycling)
4. Mike Okano (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.; Team Simple Green/MediaSpot/RocknRoad/Specialized)
5. Kris Tilford (Topeka, Kan.)
1. Ruth Clemence (CDM, Calif.)
2. Laura Howat (Salt Lake City; Kuhl Cycling Team)
3. Marianne Martin (Boulder, Colo.)
4. Sherry Berde Townsend (Mendota Heights, Minn.; NorthStar Development)
5. Rita Robben (Evergreen, Colo.)
1. Steve Johnson (Larkspur, Colo.; COS Racing)
2. William Simmons (Superior, Colo.; Boulder Center for Orthopedics & Spine)
3. Frank Jennings (Edgartown, Mass.; Spin Arts Cycling /American Lung Association Cycling)
4. Charles Townsend (NorthStar Development)
5. James Malone (Casper, Wyo.; Wholesome Masters Racing)
1. Kristine Johnson (Larkspur, Colo.; DNA Cycling)
2. Charlotte Miller (Colorado Springs, Colo.; COS Racing)
1. Tom Groves (Centennial, Colo.; RacerX)
2. Arthur Allen (Boulder, Colo.)
3. Mark McCarthy (Rochester, N.Y.; Trek/Towpath)
4. Charles Perez (Englewood, Colo.; CP Fitness and Training (Rocky Mountain Triathlon Club)
5. Newt Colburn (Burlington, Iowa; Rule #5)
1. Martha Iverson (Durango, Colo.; DNA Cycling Masters)
1. Ernie Borjon (Anchorage, Alaska)
1. Phil Van Horn (Montecito, Calif)
1. Frederic Schmid (Waco, Texas; Geri Atrix)
1. Wendy Skean (Nathrop, Colo.; Hammer. Nutrition)
The 11-12 Juniors, 13-14 Juniors, and Para H1-H2 tackled the 24.8-mile course. It was a field sprint to the finish for the Junior Men 13-14 with Joe Zukowski (Fort Collins, Colo.; Noco Cycling Project) winning the Stars and Stripes. The Morozowich sisters sprinted to the line together with Leah Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Durango Devo) earning gold in the Junior Women’s 13-14 category. Lumen Brandsmeier (North Liberty, Iowa; Sugar Bottom Bikes/Iowa City MTB Club) took top honors in the Junior Men’s 11-12 race and Rhys Stevens (Bentonville, Ark.; Thaden School) claimed the National Title in the Junior Women’s 11-12 race.
1. Rhys Stevens (Bentonville, Ark.; Thaden School)
2. Weston Elkins (Ramona, Calif.; Elkins Bros Racing)
3. Ian Barton (Durango, Colo.; DDR)
4. Greer Peed (Lincoln, Neb.; Slowtwitch GoodLife Racing)
5. William Jupp (Pleasanton, Calif.; San Jose Bicycle Club)
1. Lumen Brandsmeier (North Liberty, Iowa; Sugar Bottom Bikes/Iowa City MTB Club)
1. Joe Zukowski (Fort Collins, Colo.; Noco Cycling Project)
2. Steve Danielson (Longmont, Colo.; CINCH Cycling)
3. Gwilym Stevens (Bentonville, Ark.; Thaden School)
4. Severin McCarter (Lawrence, Kan.; Move Up Cycling Club)
5. Sawyer Schaeffer (Leawood, Kan.; Move Up Cycling Club)
1. Leah Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Durango Devo)
2. Anna Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Durango Devo)
3. Abigail Fisher (Santa Rosa, Calif.; Sycip / Devout Coffee Juniors)
4. Addison Temple (Meridian, Idaho; BYRDS)
5. Avery Chilton (Billings, Mont.; Team Booger)
Thank you for tuning in for our second year of Gravel Nationals! La Crecent, Minnesota will host the USA Cycling Gravel National Championships for the next two years, starting with the first event slated for the third weekend of September 2025.
Rider results for the 2024 USA Cycling Gravel National Championships can be found here. For downloadable images, click here.
Photo By: Tory Hernandez, Evrgrn Photo
