Team USA kicked off the 2025 UCI Cyclocross World Championships with the Team Relay. The six-person team, one rider from each category, did their fastest laps possible to battle against nine other countries for the rainbow stripes.
Team USA consisted of: Scott Funston (Boulder, Colo.; Cervelo / OrangeLiving), Aidan Vollmuth (Mendham, N.J.; Finkraft Junior Cycling Team), Katie Clouse (Park City, Utah; Steve Tilford Foundation Racing), Vida Lopez de San Roman (Sebastopol, Calif.; Bear National Team), Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; CXD / Trek Bikes), and Henry Coote (Manchester, Mass.; Comp Edge Racing)
Team USA rode all out and battled to the end to finish in fourth place. Elite racer Funston went off with the gun and was able to stick with the lead group of three and hold second position. He handed it off to first-year junior, Vollmuth who fell off the lead group, but was still able to finish his lap in third position with a large gap on fourth place. Clouse was next for the United States and put down the second fastest lap for the elite women. She was able to close that gap and keep third position for the team.
Lopez de San Roman started her lap to completely close the gap and take the lead. She opened a 20-second gap over the first chasers. Junior Women’s World Cup winner, Cusack rode a clean lap and held the lead riding through the transfer zone with about a 10-second gap. U23 rider, Coote rode the final leg for Team USA and was able to hold the gap at the beginning of his lap. It started to close as other countries sent out their elite male riders.He was eventually passed by Great Britain, Italy, and France. Coote stayed with them onto the finish straight and would ultimately finish just three seconds outside of medal contention, finishing in fourth place.
Coach Grant Holicky has been on the ground supporting the team all season. He was extremely proud of the team’s effort today. “I thought we raced incredibly. We asked Scott and Aidan to keep us in the race, and they kept it tight,” said Holicky. “We were hoping our women would be strong, and they were really strong and they rode with amazing legs and gave us a shot at the front. Henry got put in a tough spot with the elite riders chasing him down and he held them off just beautifully to come in fourth.”
After the race, Clouse said, “I think our first two riders set a really good pace and we were able to hold a good position. I was able to take back some time on Italy and France. Then Vida, Lidia, and Henry were able to finish it off. I think fourth is really great for the USA and I’m really proud of all of our rides.”
The course was challenging, and it was important just to keep mistakes to a minimum and to stay in control. Vollmuth commented on the course and how he handled his first World Championship experience. “It was my first time doing the relay. I just had to keep the momentum going on the course, ride smooth, and stay safe. I just wanted to avoid making any mistakes—rest when I could and breathe when I could—so I could go harder when it mattered most. It’s a really, really challenging course.”
1. Great Britain 50:03
2. Italy +0:02
3. France +0:05
4. United States +0:08
