Urban and Blevins take XCC victories at US XC Open
Top talent makes for fast races at first round of US National Series
Kelsey Urban and Christopher Blevins took short track victories at the first round of the US National XC Series Friday in Temecula, California. The women’s race came down to a select group of four riders, while Blevins won with a small gap over his rivals.
Jenn Jackson opened the women’s race and rode to a small gap over the first lap, but was reeled in by American National Champion Urban. Gwendalyn Gibson, Sofia Waite, Savilia Blunk, Ruth Holcomb, Bailey Cioppa, and Makena Kellerman all in the mix.
Blunk was eager to set the pace on lap three with Gibson and Urban fighting for her wheel, with Urban setting the pace the following lap. Blunk launched an attach with 1 to go with Gibson and Urban responding. Blunk fell off the pace once Urban took the lead, and the KMC rider led out the sprint to victory.
Notably, the Santa Cruz HTSQD’s Holcomb raced well and only fell off the pace in the final laps.
In the men’s race it was Durango’s Ivan Sippy who took the holeshot; Sippy is the collegiate cyclocross National Champion. His teamamte Dane Grey was in tow along wiht Blevins in addition to a handful of Bear National Team racers including Jack Spranger, Robbie Day, and Raulito Gutierrez. Riley Amos slipped and pedal at the start, while Cole Paton worked to move his way up from a back-of-pack call-up.
A large group of men stayed together, and Blevins finally hit the wind with a few laps to go. The Specialized rider was initially marked by Sippy but opened a gap at the start of the penultimate lap.
Despite a charging Spranger, Blevins stayed away for another victory after winning this race last year.
Elite racing continues Saturday at 12:00 p.m. PST, live on YouTube.
