In a thrilling battle, Makena Kellerman (Steve Tilford Foundation Racing) outsprinted Kaya Musgrave (Pure Energy Drink / Haro Bikes) to win the U23 women’s title at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships presented by The Meteor on Saturday.
Kellerman, Musgrave and Pan-American U23 women’s champion Mia Aseltine (Competitive Edge Racing) pulled away from the field after one lap and were locked into a tight battle on the Centennial Park course. Kellerman and Musgrave took turns attacking but never managed to pull away as Aseltine bobbled on the final lap, leaving the other two riders to battle it out for the gold.
Kellerman led the duo onto the pavement and held off Musgrave to win the title after finishing second in last year’s chaotic finish.
“I know both of them come from really strong road tactics. And so my biggest thing I was a little nervous being on the front so much, because I knew there were a lot of tactics going down,” Mullins told FloBikes announcers Brad Sohner and Ellen Noble after her win.
“With our first couple laps going, we honestly were going like a tempo pace for a few when we came through the start/finish, and it was a lot about who’s gonna go and who’s gonna pull. So I think I was really weighing in my mind, okay, I do want to set the pace, because I feel for mountain bike, I can hold a longer, higher intensity, but I didn’t want to go out too soon and end up blowing so but it ended up being a really good ride.
“Mia and Kaya are so talented, and they used to race mountain bike, and I’ve had so much fun racing a little cyclocross with them, and getting that experience.”
“It hurt pretty bad,” Kellerman said of the long stairway on the course. “I just knew I was going into the race after doing collegiate team relay yesterday in the collegiate race, I knew the stairs were definitely one of my stronger suits. And I don’t know why I don’t actually run stairs ever, but getting out there was actually pretty cool. So I was like, Okay, I feel really good on these tow – either pass or get a gap again.”
Kellerman had a chance to race on the course during the collegiate Varsity event on Friday, and though she made mistakes in the…
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