Over 75 Americans are competing at the 2019 UCI World Masters Track Cycling Championships, being held this week in the United Kingdom. So far, American riders have secured eight first place, eleven second place, and eight third place finishes in the competition which will run through October 19.
To keep updated on all of the action, follow the link to their website: http://www.cyclingmasters.com/site/
On the opening day of Charm City Cross in Baltimore, Maryland, 2018 Pro CX Champion, Kerry Werner (Birdsboro, Penn.) and Continental Champion, Curtis White (Delanson, N.Y.) were neck and neck. Ultimately, Werner came out on top with White placing second and National Champion Stephan Hyde (Easthampton, Mass.) rounding out the top three. In the women’s competition, Rebecca Fahringer (Concord, N.H.) placed first with fellow Americans Carla Williams (Roanoke, Virg.) and Caroline Nolan (Reno, Nev.) placing second and third, respectively. In the junior men’s competition Magnus Sheffield (Pittsford, N.Y.) took the first place spot. Andrew Strohmeyer (Mount Airy, Md.) placed second and Tommy Serventas (Sykesville, Md.) placed third.
Day two brought another tight battle between Werner and White in the men’s competition. It came down to a sprint finish, but with White taking the win over Werner. Hyde repeated his finish from the day before with another third place. Fahringer doubled-down with another win in the women’s competition. The top three stayed the same from the day before with Williams taking the silver and Nolan with the bronze. In the junior men’s competition, Sheffield and Strohmeyer had a tight finish with Sheffield also doubling up on wins. Strohmeyer finished in second and Serventas in third.
On the first day of the U.S. Open of Cyclocross in Boulder, Colorado, American racers swept the podium. In the men’s elite competition, Lance Haidet (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) edged out Gage Hecht (Parker, Colo.) for the first place finish. Hecht placed second and Eric Brunner (Boulder, Colo.) placed third. In the women’s elite competition, 15-time National Champion Katie Compton (Colorado Springs, Colo.) came out on top with a first place finish. Fellow Americans Clara Honsinger (Portland, Ore.) and Madigan Munro (Boulder, Colo.) placed second and third respectively. In the junior men’s competition, American Jared Scott (Boulder, Colo.) placed first. Ivan Gallego (Missoula, Mont.) and Vin Hludzinski (Boulder, Colo.) placed second and third respectively.
The second day of competition was another successful race for the American riders. In the Men’s competition, Brunner bumped up in the ranks placing first. Americans Hecht and Haidet placed second and third respectively. In the women’s competition, Honsinger edged out the competition placing first on day two. Close behind her, fellow Munro placed second. Finally, in the men’s junior competition, Scott placed first and Hludzinski placed third.
This event, and others like it, gives racers a chance to get to know the course before the 2020 Olympics. The women’s elite competition brought success for American racers. World Champion, Alise Willoughby (Chula Vista, Calif.) placed second with National Champion, Felicia Stancil (Indianapolis, Ind.) following close behind placing third.
As a part of the Epic Rides series, this weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas was the Oz Trails Off-Roads race.
Pro Crit
In the women’s race, U.S. national team member Erin Huck (Estes Park, Colo.) placed second with fellow American, Hannah Finchamp (Kennewick, Wash.), close behind placing third. 2019 Mountain Bike National Championships Silver Medalist, Evelyn Dong (Herber City, Utah), 2019 Marathon Mountain Bike National Champion Rose Grant (Columbia Falls Mont.), and 2018 World Champion Kate Courtney (Kentfield, Calif.) placed fifth, seventh and ninth, respectively.
Backcountry Race
In the men’s race, 2019 Mountain Bike National Champion Keegan Swenson (Herber, Utah) was Americas top finisher placing second. 2019 Marathon Mountain Bike National Champion Russell Finsterwald (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was close behind placing fourth. In the women’s competition, there was a final sprint between four racers (Three Americans). Ultimately, Grant backed up her performance in the Pro Crit with a solid second followed by Courtney (Kentfield, Calif.) and Crystal Anthony (Bentonville, Ark.).
Full results can be found here.
Colleges from all over the country competed at Big Bear Lake, California in various mountain bike disciplines including cross country, short track, dual slalom, downhill, and team relay. Colorado Mesa University and University of Colorado Boulder won the Team Omnium National titles.
Full race recaps for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday can be found here: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
Photos By: Blair Fraley / Brenda Ernst
