UCI MTB World Cup, Soldier Hollow (XCC, XCO): Midway, Utah

(September 19-20) – Soldier Hollow hosted the first of two US stops on the World Cup Mountain Bike schedule with a weekend of short track and XCO racing in Midway, Utah. 

Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek-Unbroken) placed 2nd in elite women’s XCO, earning her first elite XCO podium spot. Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing) placed 4th and Haley Batten(Specialized Factory Racing) placed 6th. Gibson also placed 7th in the elite women’s XCC. Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM) was 6th and Riley Amos (Trek-Unbroken) was 8th in elite men’s XCO. 

Makena Kellerman had a double-podium weekend, sprinting for 2nd in U23 women’s XCC and placing 3rd in U23 women’s XCO. Nicholas Konecny (Lexware MTB) rode to 5th in U23 men’s XCO. 

With one race to go, Bjorn Riley sits 3rd overall in the elite men’s XCO standings. Savilia Blunk is 4th overall in the elite women’s XCO standings, and Gwendalyn Gibson and Madigan Munro are 9th and 10th. Makena Kellerman is 8th overall in U23 women’s XCO standings.

The season wraps up in Lake Placid, New York, October 2-4.

Results here

UCI MTB World Cup, Whistler Mountain Bike Park (DH): British Columbia, Canada

(September 25-27) – Team USA captured two gold medals and a bronze under incredibly challenging conditions at the UCI World Cup downhill, held at Whistler MTB Park. 

Asa Vermette (Frameworks Racing/TRP) won the elite men’s race and Aletha Ostgaard(Canyon DH Racing) won the junior women’s final, her eighth podium and fifth WC win this season. Boston Bryant (Outlaw Intense Racing) won bronze in the junior men’s final. 

Ostgaard, whose time was four seconds faster than the elite women’s winner, also captured the junior women’s overall title with the win. Vermette moved into the elite men’s overall lead, with just one race remaining in the series.

Luca Shaw (Canyon DH Racing) and Dylan Maples (Pivot Factory Racing) rounded out the top-10 elite men, coming in 9th and 10th. 

In junior women’s racing, Samantha Porras, Raina Logar (Frameworks Racing/TRP) and Kallie Stewart placed 6th, 7th and 9th. Brodey Walker (Outlaw Intense Racing) was 6th in the junior men’s final. 

The series wraps up in Lake Placid, New York, October 2-4.

Results here

Chequamegon MTB Festival: Hayward, Wisconsin

(September 19) – Thousands of cyclists tackled a 40-mile course in Wisconsin’s Northwoods at Chequamegon MTB Festival, the fourth of six races in the Life Time Grand Prix.

Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Specialized) won the elite women’s race, completing the course in 2:14:10 and capturing her third win of the series. Karolina Migon (PAS Racing) and Sarah Lange came in 15 seconds behind, for 2nd and 3rd. 

Matthew Wilson (Scott/Shimano) soloed home for the men’s win, coming in at 1:57:50. Brendan Johnston (Giant-SRAM) and Keegan Swenson (Specialized) sprinted for 2nd and 3rd, with Johnston taking the win by two seconds (1:58:48) 

Next up in the series is Little Sugar MTB, October 11, in Bella Vista, Arkansas.

Results here