Caroline Mani (Alpha Bicycle Co-Groove Silverthorne) ended the US Cyclocross Series (USCX) in the same fashion as she started, sweeping a weekend of races. The final sweep at Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross in Falmouth, Massachusetts on November 5 and 6 gave her the elite women’s overall title, and the first-time cash prize.
Mani carried a 44-point lead into the final two contests of the eight-race series, and extended that margin to 60 points over runner-up Raylyn Nuss, who finished second at both days of Really Rad. Austin Killips sealed a third place in the series on the final weekend, just 14 points behind Nuss.
“It was great, and everyone worked hard to put that series together. I really wanted to be part of it, and I’m super happy I won,” Mani said about securing the overall USCX title with podium finishes in all eight races, including four wins.
The men’s competition in the second edition of USCX came down to the final three of the eight events, with Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation) taking the title by three points over Eric Brunner (Blue Competition Cycles p/b Build) when the dust settled at Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross.
Belgian Vincent Baestaens (Spits CX) went five-for-five with wins and added a second place to open the series with a commanding lead of 262 total points. He then travelled back to home soil to pursue his European programme and left the battle to the US duo of White and Brunner.
On the second day at Charm City Cross, White took the victory and leapt into second place in the series with 212 points, 19 points ahead of Brunner. The reigning US elite men’s ‘cross champion then won the final two rounds at Really Rad, but with points for second-place finishes, White was able to hold off Brunner for the series title.
The USCX overall winners for elite men and elite women received $3,000 each, with runners-up receiving $1,800. The total $15,000 prize purse was new for 2022, and athletes received exposure via livestream broadcasts on GCN+ for all elite races.
Mani and White also captured the overall crowns in the USA Cycling Pro Cyclocross calendar. Raylyn Nuss was second in the women’s individual standings and Brunner was second in the men’s individual standings.
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