Katie Clouse secures U23 women's title at US cyclo-cross championships
Arensman second and Mallory third
Katie Clouse (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) won the under-23 women’s race at the USA Cycling Cyclo-cross Championships at Lakewood, Washington, on Sunday. Clouse finished more than two minutes ahead of runner-up Hannah Arensman (JA King Cyclocross) and Shannon Mallory (NWCX Project).
"I had a few [mistakes], but I wanted to ride a consistent race and do the best that I could," Clouse said in a post-race interview. "It's been 31 [national title victories] but I've trained the most than I ever have in the last two years.
"I got really fortunate this year to get on this team [Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld]. It's a well-respected program and I'm really excited about it. It's been a season of growing and I'm excited about what's to come."
Clouse built a lead straight off the start line and throughout the opening lap showing that her strength and technical skills on the challenging course were far superior to those of her rivals.
Her lead grew to over a minute over a chasing Arensman with two laps to go, while riders Mallory, Katja Freeburn (Linear Sport-Trek), Turner Ramsay (Alpha Bicycle Co-Groove Suba), Ellie Mitchell (NWCX Project), Tristen Musselman (Fort Lewis), Alijah Beatty (Marian University), Aliza Tobias (Brevard College) and Anna Savage (NCC/Jam) trailed separately behind inside the top 10.
Clouse still looked strong on the run-up located near the start of the circuit on the last lap. She pushed her gap out to over two minutes as she orbited the circuit on her way to victory.
Clouse will compete at a series of World Cups, several UCI-sanctioned events, and participate in a training camp in Europe ahead of the World Championships.
"This was a really good week of training. The world cups are not going to be easy. I got to race collegiate, and this week, it was a good week. I'm really excited."
Pos. | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Katie Clouse (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld) | 0:42:12 |
2 | Hannah Arensman (JA King Cyclocross) | 0:02:30 |
3 | Shannon Mallory (NWCX Project) | 0:04:06 |
4 | Katja Freeburn (Linear Sport RT/Trek) | 0:04:55 |
5 | Turner Ramsay (Alpha Bicycle Co - Groove Suba) | 0:07:06 |
6 | Ellie Mitchell (NWCX Project) | 0:08:15 |
7 | Tristen Musselman (Fort Lewis College) | 0:08:53 |
8 | Alijah Beatty (Marian Univerity Cycling) | 0:10:15 |
@1Lap | Anna Savage (NCC/JAM) | |
@1Lap | Aliza Tobias (Brevard College) | |
@1Lap | Elizabeth Huuki (Army West Point Cycling) | |
@1Lap | Ashley Zoerner (Blue Factory Stages) | |
@1Lap | Hannah Dickson (Sycamore Cycles) | |
@1Lap | Hayden Gizinski (NWCX Project) | |
@2Lap | Lauren Ziehnert (TCNF LEGAL Racing Team) | |
DNS | Mason Hopkins (Warren Wilson College) |
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Nash Dash Cyclocross: Mani and Werner sweep C2 elite races with Alexis Magner and Ty Magner in top 10
Cusack and Funston repeat with second-place finishes in Georgia races -
Nash Dash Cyclocross: Caroline Mani and Kerry Werner win C2 openers in Georgia
17-year-old Lidia Cusack earns first UCI elite women's podium -
Benjamin Thomas and Fabio Van Den Bossche win Gent Six Day with stunning late attack
Week-long leaders Lindsay De Vylder and Robbe Ghys finally finish second -
Canadian Cyclocross Championships: Ian Ackert adds elite men's national title to collection
Gunnar Holmgren second and Tyler Clark third on muddy Lévis course in Quebec