In addition to Fort Lewis College Cycling’s second-place team finish, many other cyclists from Durango competed for stars and stripes at the 2021 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Dupage County, Illinois. last week.
Sarah Sturm (Specialized/Rapho/Sram) was defending her singlespeed title from 2019. In Saturday’s final, however, Sturm came up short and had to settle for second place. Sturm finished 13 seconds behind the winner, Sunny Gilbert (Blue Competition Cycles Pro Build), who crossed first after three laps in 34 minutes, 50 seconds.
High winds reaching 50 mph also wreaked havoc on the course in the morning and caused Saturday’s races to be delayed.
In the women’s elite race Sunday, Sturm finished 21st out of 36 riders in 58:40 after four laps. Clara Hinsinger (Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com) won the elite national title by more than three minutes in 47 minutes, 42 seconds.
In the men’s singlespeed championship, Keiran Eagan (Team Segment 28) just finished off the podium in sixth-place to lead the local contingent. Eagan’s time was 31:33 in the three-lap race. Sam Vickery (Team Segment 28) finished 22nd in 34:19, Alex Green (FLC) crossed 26th in 34:47, Kolby Preble (Team Segment 28) finished 40th in 36:32, and Kobi Gyetvan (FLC) crossed 67th in 27:04 after two laps.
Also on Saturday, Anna Morozowich (Durango Devo) placed third in the junior women 11-12 competition in 25:54. Leah Morozowich (Durango Devo) placed 18th in 39:03 in the same division. Steven Morozowich, competiing in the men’s masters 50-54 division, placed 52nd in 44:36.
On Sunday, a lot of Skyhawks and some other local cyclists competed in the U23 and elite races.
In the women’s U23 race, four FLC riders competed, and they all finished in the top 14 of the nation. Natalie Quinn placed sixth in 52:56 after four laps to led the team. Ruth Holcomb finished eighth in 54:40, Madelyn Roberson completed two laps in 31:04 to place 11th, and Sabrina Hayes finished 14th in 32:35.
In the men’s U23 race, FLC’s Sam Brown, riding for Alpha Bicycle Co.–Groove Silverthorne, finished seventh after five laps in 58:32. Durango High School senior Ivan Sippy (Team Segment 28) crossed 11th in 59:50. Cobe Freeburn (FLC) crossed 18th in 1:02:16, George Piepgras (FLC) finished 25th in 1:04:28, and Alex Green (FLC) completed three laps and finished 41st in 41:04.
FLC coach Chad Cheeney also raced in the men’s masters 40-44 race and finished 21st in 47:22.
The elite men took the course in the last race of the weekend, and Cody Cupp represented Durango with a top 10 finish. Cupp (Riders Inc.) completed seven laps in 1:15:21 to place 10th in the elite race. Eagan completed five laps in 56:58 to place 22nd, Preble did three laps in 35:55 to place 38th, and Gyyetvan finished 44th in 40:14.
Eric Brunner (Blue Competition Cycles p/b Build) won the elite men’s title in 1:08:30. A pair of cyclists from Colorado Mesa University won the U23 titles – Katie Clouse (Cannondale Cyclocross World) and Scott Funston (Blue Competition Cycles p/b Build).
