Katie Compton (Trek Cyclocross Collective) was starting to open up a lead by the second lap(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Stephen Hyde wins the 2018 US cyclo-cross championship(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The battle between Emma White (Cannondale) and Ellen Noble (Aspire Racing) was established early(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
The U23 Men chasing Gage Hecht (Alpha Bicycle) during the first lap(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
Ben Gomez Villafane celebrating after his victory(Image credit: Dave McElwaine)
USA Cycling named its 31-rider team for the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships on Tuesday. The event takes place on February 3-4 in Valkenburg, Netherlands.
Katie Compton, 14-time national champion and Pan American titleholder, will head up the team for the elite women's race, with Kaitlin Keough and Ellen Noble also earning automatic selections. Elle Anderson, Courtenay McFadden and Rebecca Fahringer complete the squad.
For the elite men, Stephen Hyde, Tobin Ortenblad and Kerry Werner earned automatic bids, while Jeremy Powers, Cody Kaiser, Jack Kisseberth, and Tristan Cowie complete the team.
"We have assembled a talented team and look forward to competing against the world’s best cyclo-cross athletes at the World Championships on the hallowed and challenging Valkenburg circuit in cycling-crazy Limburg,” Cyclocross Performance Consultant Geoff Proctor said in a press release.
Team USA will be without U23 champion Christopher Blevins, who declined his spot. Gage Hecht earned an automatic spot. Runner-up in Reno Eric Brunner and third placed Grant Ellwood were also selected with Maxx Chance, Spencer Petrov and Denzel Stephenson.
U23 women's winner Emma White and four junior men - national champion Benjamin Gomez, Scott Funston, Alex Morton and Calder Wood - were the other automatic selections.
Elite Men: Tristan Cowie (Triple Oaks Racing), Stephen Hyde* (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld), Cody Kaiser (LangeTwins/Specialized Bicycles/SRAM), Jack Kisseberth (JAM Fund/NCC), Tobin Ortinblad* (Santa Cruz/Donkey Label), Jeremy Powers (Aspire Racing), Kerry Werner* (Kona Endurance Team)
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Elite Women: Elle Anderson (Cycling.be - Alpha Motorhomes), Katie Compton* (KFC Racing p/b Trek/Panache), Rebecca Fahringer (Stan’s No Tubes/Maxxis), Kaitlin Keough* (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld), Courtenay McFadden (GE Capital/American Classic), Ellen Noble* (Aspire Racing)
U23 Women: Hannah Arensman (J.A. King p/b BR'C), Katie Clouse (Alpha Bicycle Co.-Groove Subaru), Clara Honsinger (Washington State Bicycle Association), Laurel Rathbun (Donnelly Cycling), Emma Swartz (Trek Cyclocross Collective), Emma White* (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld)
Junior Men: Scott Funston* (Rad Racing NW), Benjamin Gomez Villafane* (Top Club), Lane Maher (Hot Tubes Development Cycling), Alex Morton* (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld), Sam Noel (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld), Calder Wood* (Rad Racing NW)
Automatic qualifiers are noted with an asterisk (*).
