Lauren Stephens (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) won her first Garmin Gravel Worlds 150 title while John Borstelmann (Ventum-Voler) claimed his third title on August 26.
The 150-mile endurance test across the ‘gravel seas’ in eastern Nebraska, the start and finish in Lincoln, remained a completely self-supported adventure. It was a rainy start for all competitors, which left behind a soggy course filled with heavy mud sections that caked on all equipment.
Borstelmann dominated his local terrain in a time of 8:00:10. He held off a challenge by Chase Wark, who finished 18 seconds back for second place. Stephen Vogel was third, 8:20 behind the three-time men’s champion.
“It’s such an honor to win in front of a home crowd at my favorite race. This one means so much,” the Nebraska native said on his Instagram feed, rebounding from a second-place finish last year. He last won in 2021.
“I was incredibly lucky to find myself off the front with Chase Wark for the last 70 miles, the best racing companion I could have hoped for. I was lucky to get through the critical mud section first, bike unscathed, thanks to the generous tire clearance of my Ventum GS1. I was lucky to have good legs and a healthy appetite to keep me pounding sugar all day long. And above all, I was lucky to know I had the city of Lincoln, Nebraska pulling for me when the going got tough.”
Stephens finished in a time of 9:15:28, 3:39 ahead of Paige Onweller, who claimed second place for a second year in a row. Kyleigh Spearing completed her ride nearly 14 minutes later for third place.
An accomplished rider in multiple disciplines and on all types of surfaces, Stephens put in a long road season with EF Education-TIBCO-SVB which saw her earn a silver medal in the US pro women’s time trial national championships and fourth in the pro road race. She also capped a Spring Classics campaign with a top 20 at Strade Bianche and top 30 at Tour of Flanders.
CRIT Championship coming October 21
The first event for the new Circuit Racing International Tour, or CRIT, will take place October 21 in St. Petersburg, Florida, according to professional cyclist and founder Justin Williams, in partnership with Wasserman Ventures.
Williams, who races for L39ION of Los Angeles, is also the founder of Williams Racing Development, and he announced in April that a…
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