Day five of the 2025 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike Championships opened at Explore Park with the first wave of cross-country races. Junior athletes were the first to take on the course, setting the tone for an action-packed day. As temperatures climbed and the threat of afternoon storms was looming, racers faced not only demanding courses but also slick conditions.
The Junior Women 11-12 were the first to race following the morning qualifiers. Silvia Palomaki (Marquette, Mich.; Sisu Cycles Factory Racing) put in a strong first lap to open a gap and never looked back, holding her lead all the way to the finish. Weslie Winebarger (Durango, Colo.; Mondraker/2nd Ave Sports/Durango Integrative Medicine) stayed within striking distance, crossing the line just over a minute behind to claim second. Quinn Kramer (Crozet, Va.; Charlottesville Racing Club Junior MTB) rounded out the podium in third.
Thirty-six riders lined up for the Junior Men’s 11-12 race, and the battle at the front stayed tight until the final hill. Nolan Elkins (Ramona, Calif.; Elkins Bros Racing) launched a late-race sprint to take the win in 34:15. Just seconds behind, Cooper Wells (Durango, Colo.; TWL) rode across the line to secure second place. Jack Odonnell (Delmar, N.Y.; Capital Bicycle Racing) claimed third, rounding out a fast and competitive podium.
Fifty-seven junior men lined up for their two-lap race on the red course. From the start, Isaac Sproule (Medical Lake, Wash.; Team Booger) took control, with Wednesday’s XCC National Champion Wes Mattson (Charlottesville, Va.; Control Racing) close behind. Mattson pushed the pace in an effort to reel in the leader, but Sproule held strong and crossed the line solo to claim the Stars and Stripes. Weston Elkins (Ramona, Calif.; Elkins Bros Racing) put in a solid ride to take third and round out the podium.
The Junior Women 13-14 took to the red course in the early afternoon, with 50 riders charging off the start line. All eyes were on Anna Morozowich (Scottsdale, Ariz.; Durango Devo), fresh off her short track win on Wednesday. She wasted no time taking control, building a lead of over a minute after the first lap. Morozowich held her lead to the finish, claiming another national title. Abby Cole (East Granby, Conn.; Competitive Edge Racing) secured the silver, while Elsie Linton (Missoula, Mont.; Team Stampede) raced her way onto the podium with a strong third-place finish.
Racing heated up in the late afternoon as the Amateur and Masters Women took on three laps of the red course. In the Amateur Women 19-29 race, Meira Kalbas (Nashotah, Wis.; Broken Spoke Development) powered to gold in an exciting sprint finish against Wren Capra (Steamboat Springs, Colo.; Avout Racing, Middlebury College). Chelsea Richwine (Alexandria, Va.; National Capital Velo Club) rode a strong race to take the win in the Masters Women 30-34 category. In the Masters Women 35-39 race, Carla Williams (Roanoke, Va.; Cardinal Bicycle) crossed the line first, claiming her second Stars and Stripes jersey of the week.
In the Masters Women 40-44 race, Ashley Green (Bella Vista, Ark.; BettySquad Elite Racing Team) went two for two, claiming her second Stars and Stripes jersey of the week. Defending national champion Kristen Smith (San Clemente, Calif.; Team Baghouse) did the same thing in the 45-49 category, earning her second title of the week. Denelle Grant (Richmond, Va.; WWWR | WeeWheel Women's Racing) topped the podium in the 50-54 race, while Elizabeth Sheldon (Washington, D.C.; CXD: Trek Bikes) defended her title in the 55-59 field, securing another Stars and Stripes jersey. In the 60-64 category, Laurie Brandt (Montrose, Colo.; Bicycle Outfitters - Primal) put in a strong ride to take the win. Tamara Tabeek (Ramona, Calif.; Wolf Pack/Mouseketeers) added a second jersey to her week in the 65-69 race, and Zalene Corey (Kimberton, Pa.; Sturdy Girl Cycling Club & Race Team) rounded out the event with a win in the 70-74 category.
Multi-time national champion Kerry Werner (Vinton, Va.; Black Bibs Factory Racing Elite Ambassador Partnership Program) delivered a standout performance, riding one gear to take the win in the Men’s Singlespeed race. On the women’s side, Kelly Catale (Pepperell, Mass.; Team KellCat) powered through the course to claim victory in the Women’s Singlespeed race.
The E-MTB category made its return for the third year at nationals, bringing additional action to the course. Defending champion Nick Mackie (Tallahassee, Fla.; Specialized) successfully held onto his title, crossing the line in 41:20 to retain the Stars and Stripes. On the women’s side, Ginny McFall (Greenville, S.C.; Zboys Racing/Atomik Wheels/Maxxis Tires/HandUp/Specialized Bikes) earned the national title.
In the non-binary race, Alison Roth (Madison, NJ; Project Echelon Vanguard) took the win after finishing in a time of 46:56.
The day wrapped up with the Amateur Men 19-29, Masters Men 30-34, and Masters Men 35-39, racing a total of four laps on the red course. Earning the top spot on the Amateur Men's side was Caden Frost (Charlotte, Vt.; Frost Beer Works) who finished in a time of 1:17:17. In the Masters Men 30-34 race, short track national champion Gus Michaels (Brevard, N.C.; Dirt Camp Racing/Fox Factory) had a strong ride to secure another gold medal on the week. Wrapping things up in the Masters Men 35-39, Cory Peterson (Ellicott City, Md.; Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team) beat second place by 1:45 to take the win.
Continuing with the qualification process that was put in place in 2024, up to 100 riders received automatic berths for the Junior Men’s 17-18 and Junior Men’s 15-16 XCO Finals through podium placings at the 2024 USA Cycling Cross-Country National Championship, performance in the Cross-Country National Series, as well as UCI rankings and USA Cycling XC rankings. Racers not receiving an automatic invitation took to the line, vying for the last twenty available spots in the XCO Finals for each respective category. Jack Barrett (Mountain Brook, Ala.; Mountain Brook Cycling Team/Pace Coaching) and Joaquin Salas (Santa Maria, Calif.; Orcutt Mountain Bike Composite Team) rode strong to secure the top qualifying spots in their respective categories.
Racing will continue at Explore Park on Saturday morning for more cross-country racing, where the 17-18 Men and Women, Under-23 Men and Women, as well as the Elite Men and Women, will all be vying for the Stars and Stripes jersey.
Click here for the full event schedule.
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