De Crescenzo scores new team contract with gritty ride at US Pro Road Nationals

Lauren DeCrescenzo (Cinch Cycling) on the attack in Knoxville
Lauren DeCrescenzo (Cinch Cycling) on the attack in Knoxville (Image credit: Patrick Daly)

The battle on the pavement in the 114.6km elite women's road race of the USA Cycling Pro Road Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee developed to a crescendo in the final 11 kilometres between two recently-crowned winners on gravel. Which Lauren would have the truest grit for the stars-and-stripes jersey on Sunday?

Lauren Stephens (TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank), the 2021 winner of Unbound Gravel 100, would make the pass of breakaway leader Lauren De Crescenzo (Cinch Elite), the 2021 winner of Unbound Gravel 200, at the base of the technical descent of the final climb and power to a solo victory. De Crescenzo had attacked with 48km to go and remained in control of the lead until that pass, pushing on to finish eighth, 1:19 behind Stephens.

Jackie Tyson
North American Production editor

Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. She has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast). Her favorite road and gravel rides are around horse farms in north Georgia (USA) and around lavender fields in Provence (France), and some mtb rides in Park City, Utah (USA).

Read more
Geerike Schreurs on stage 1 of 2025 Santa Vall, riding to third place
Geerike Schreurs back on gravel podium in 2025 debut but more 'anxious' for first road race in 11 years
Rosa Klöser at training camp with her new Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto teammates
'A dream I didn't even know I had' - Unbound Gravel winner Rosa Klöser on the unlikely path from commuter to WorldTour rider
Before 2025 RADL GRVL, Melisa Rollins rides her new Liv bike on a training ride in South Australia
Leadville winner Melisa Rollins starts year at RADL GRVL with 'completely new everything'
Chloé Dygert during the 2025 Tour Down Under press conference
'I don't feel like I've ever hit my full potential' - Chloé Dygert resets after years of setbacks
Neve Bradbury in Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto's 2025 race kit
How Neve Bradbury went from teenage Zwift Academy winner to 'world-class' climber in just four seasons
Michaela Thompson rode to third place at 2024 Leadville Trail 100 MTB
Michaela Thompson blazes trail on Life Time Grand Prix a year before U23 program unveiled
Latest in Women's cycling
ARSCHOT BELGIUM MARCH 02 Tiffany Cromwell of Australia and Team CANYONSRAM signing prior to the 17th Fenix Omloop van het Hageland 2025 a 1356km one day race from Aarschot to TieltWinge on March 02 2025 in Aarschot Belgium Photo by Rhode Van ElsenGetty Images
Surgery for Tiffany Cromwell after first fractures of career at Milan-San Remo
Joe Laverick and Chris Mehlman battled at the front of the race, with Laverick pushing away in the final five miles
Joe Laverick, Lauren Stephens take back-to-back wins at Rattlesnake Gravel Grind
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 21 Elisa Balsamo of Italy and Team Lidl Trek celebrates at finish line as race winner ahead of LR Chiara Consonni of Italy and UAE Team ADQ Daria Pikulik of Poland and Team Human Powered Health and Charlotte Kool of The Netherlands and Team dsmfirmenich PostNL during the 7th Womens Classic BruggeDe Panne 2024 a 155km one day race from Brugge to De Panne on March 21 2024 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
How to watch the Classic Brugge-De Panne 2025 – Live streams, TV coverage
Anna Yamauchi rides to pro women's victory at 2025 Lake Sonoma MTB
Anna Yamauchi tops Katerina Nash in 'slide it to ride it' slippery edition of Lake Sonoma MTB
OUDENAARDE BELGIUM MARCH 31 LR Demi Vollering of The Netherlands and Lotte Kopecky of Belgium and Team SD Worx Protime compete passing through the Koppenberg cobblestones sector during the 21st Ronde van Vlaanderen Tour des Flandres 2024 Womens Elite a 163km one day race from Oudenaarde to Oudenaarde UCIWWT on March 31 2024 in Oudenaarde Belgium Photo by Rafa Gomez PoolGetty Images
Tour of Flanders Women 2025 route
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 21 Elisa Balsamo of Italy and Team Lidl Trek celebrates at finish line as race winner ahead of LR Chiara Consonni of Italy and UAE Team ADQ Daria Pikulik of Poland and Team Human Powered Health and Charlotte Kool of The Netherlands and Team dsmfirmenich PostNL during the 7th Womens Classic BruggeDe Panne 2024 a 155km one day race from Brugge to De Panne on March 21 2024 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Classic Brugge-De Panne Women start list
Latest in News
Snow was an indicator that the high mountains had arrived on stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya with more to follow on stage 4
Volta a Catalunya celebrates summit finish on 'cycling landmark' Montserrat for first time in 30 years
FIRENZE ITALY JUNE 27 Magnus Cort of Denmark Alexander Kristoff of Norway Soren Waerenskjold of Norway Jonas Abrahamsen of Norway Tobias Halland Johannessen of Norway Johannes Kulset of Norway Rasmus Fossum Tiller of Norway Odd Christian Eiking of Norway and Team UnoX Mobility during the 111th Tour de France 2024 Team Presentation UCIWT on June 27 2024 in Firenze Italy Photo by Tim de WaeleGetty Images
Extra Tour de France wildcard invitations, test of gear restrictions approved by Pro Cycling Council
Team Ineos' Egan Bernal (R) rides during the 3rd stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalunya cycling tour of Catalonia, a 178,3 km race between Viladecans and La Molina, on March 26, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Egan Bernal calls Volta a Catalunya stage 'crazy' as sprint decides major climbing stage
Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) takes a moment to enjoy the stage 3 victory and GC lead as he sits next to snowbank on mountaintop finish Wednesday at Volta a Catalunya
'I've beaten a great rival' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Juan Ayuso says after narrow mountaintop victory over Primož Roglič
Belgium's Edward Theuns of Lidl-Trek is seen after falling down during the 'Classic Brugge-De Panne'
Four crashes spoil sprinters' hopes in 'really dangerous final' of Classic Brugge-De Panne
Tadej Pogačar attacks Mathieu van der Poel on the Poggio during the 2025 Milan-San Remo
'I think he has a chance' – Mathieu van der Poel considers Tadej Pogačar a serious Paris-Roubaix threat