Pro Durango mountain bikers Christopher Blevins and Savilia Blunk raced in the U.S. for the first time this season on Wednesday at the U.S. Pro Cup in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Both riders reached the podium in the Union Cycliste Internationale sanctioned event, with Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) scoring gold and Blunk (Rockrider Racing Team) taking silver in the opening cross-country Olympic race.
Blevins’ toughest competition in the race was an another Durangoan, Riley Amos (Trek Factory Racing).
The two bikers were in the lead train for all eight laps around the course, but Blevins won the race in a sprint finish in 1 hour, 27 minutes and 35 seconds. Amos finished second in the same time while Carter Woods (Giant Factory Off-Road Team) crossed third (1:27:47).
“Always good to be back racing MTBs in the U.S.,” Blevins posted. “My first XCO of the year today in Fayetteville at the (U.S. Pro Cup), and it ended up being an exciting one. Got the win in a sprint after a proper battle with (Riley Amos) and (Carter Woods).”
The elite women did seven laps, but the top riders were able to get some separation from the pack. Kate Courtney (Scott-SRAM MTB Race Team) ended up winning by almost two minutes in 1:27:55. Blunk crossed second in 1:29:52 while Jenn Jackson (Liv Factory Racing) took third in 1:31:27.
“Back racing in the U.S. is as good as I remembered,” Blunk posted. “P2 on the first hot one of the year, excited to have this week started.”
Another Durango rider, Michaela Thompson (Team Segment 28) also cracked the top-10 in the elite women’s race, finishing 10th in 1:36:34.
Lots of other Durango bikers also scored top-10 finishes in their classes.
In the men’s U23 XCO, Cobe Freeburn (Bear National Team) led Durango’s contingent with a fifth-place finish in 1:20:17, crossing 2:28 after the winner, Canadian Owen Clark (Hockley Valley Resort Armada). Dane Grey (Durango Segment 28) crossed sixth in 1:20:22, Carson Beard (Durango Segment 28) finished seventh in 1:20:57, Toby Hassett (WE Development) crossed eighth in 1:21:02 and Ivan Sippy (Team Segment 28) finished 10th in 1:22:20.
Lauren Aggeler (Trinity Racing), meanwhile, reached the podium in the U23 women’s XCO with a third-place finish in 1:36:30. Sofia Waite (WE Development) of Littleton finished 59 seconds ahead of Aggeler in first.
Two more races will be held at Fayetteville this week, giving the riders a couple more chances to score some UCI points stateside. The short track cross-country races will be held on Friday and another XCO will take place on Saturday.
