Clara Honsinger Repeats, Curtis White Finally Takes the Title at Cyclocross National Championships

It was cold and snowy in Hartford, Connecticut, this weekend—and course conditions got difficult just in time for the elite races of the day. The run-ups and off-cambers became veritable slip-and-slides, providing plenty of fodder for good-natured heckling, providing fans were careful not to get wiped out by a racer who skidded through the fencing.

USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals Championships Results

Clara Honsinger (EF EDUCATION - TIBCO - SVB) handily defended her National Championship title, taking her third victory in the elite women’s field this weekend in Hartford. In the men’s field, it was Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation Racing) who had the crowd in tears with his emotional victory—his first National title in 18 years of racing.

The women’s race had 30 starters, and Raylyn Nuss (Steve Tilford Foundation Racing) captured the holeshot, with Austin Killips (nice bikes) close behind. Honsinger's start wasn’t as optimal, and she was sitting several spots back heading into the first run-up on the course. However, Honsinger’s slower start—something she’s spoken about needing to improve—didn’t cause her much trouble, and within minutes, she was in the lead group, trading pulls with Nuss. The two quickly formed a gap on Killips, who became enmeshed in a battle for third place with Hannah Arensman (Ignition p-b Rigd-Leitner). Nuss fell off Honsinger’s pace, and for much of the nearly 50-minute race, it was Honsinger solo on the front, riding smooth despite changing conditions.

From there, Honsinger sailed smoothly away to victory, winning the race by 37 seconds. Behind her, Nuss finished in second while Killips rounded out the podium in third, narrowly beating out Arensman at the line. Killips’ finish was an emotional one, and it was clear on her face how elated she was to take a podium spot at the Championships after what must have been a stressful week for the racer.

Since early last week, reports of a potential protest against trans inclusion in the women’s field had organizers and USA Cycling—as well as the community—on edge, with USA Cycling reiterating their fan code of conduct and even providing a hotline to report violations. But according to our woman-on-the-ground, Bicycling editor Tara Seplavy, instead of protests, there was an outpouring of love and strength for the trans women who were in the race.

And as a final note on the women’s race, we also have to shout out Georgia Gould for her top-10 finish—it’s been a long time since we’ve seen Gould in a cyclocross race, but clearly, she hasn’t lost her touch!

In the men’s race, Scott Funston (Blue Competiton Cycles p-b Build) took the holeshot in conditions that were rapidly deteriorating as snow coated the course. Behind him, Lance Haidet (L39ION of Los Angeles)—2017’s U23 elite winner on the same course—quickly made a move to bring him into the front of the pack, bringing New York native Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation Racing) and Eric Brunner (Blue Competiton Cycles p-b Build) along with him.

Race favorites Brunner and White quickly moved to the front, and for the first third of the race, seemed evenly matched. At 30 minutes in, though, it seemed that Brunner was the stronger racer on the day as he began to pull away from White, smoothly navigating the technical, slick course. But a few small bobbles and crashes cost him valuable time, and by two laps to go, White had regained the 10+ seconds that he had lost on Brunner.

White attacked and grew a small gap, but in the final corners, it seemed as though there was potential for a sprint finish as White was forced to dismount his bike on a steep section just before the pavement. But the course was slicker than ever as snow fell, and Brunner was also forced to run the segment, giving White time to celebrate as he rolled in for his first-ever National Championship win after 18 years (yes, that’s right!) of racing.

Longtime cyclocrosser Kerry Werner (Kona Adventure Team) worked his way into a third placce finish, narrowly getting around Funston in the final lap to round out the podium.

In an emotional post-race interview with FloBikes, White blinked back tears and said: "This sport is beautiful. I’ve wanted to be a professional cyclocross racer my whole life… All the sacrifices have paid off, I’m national champion finally.”

2023 Elite Women Top 10 at Cyclocross Nationals

1 Clara HONSINGER (EF EDUCATION - TIBCO - SVB)

2 Raylyn NUSS (Steve Tilford Foundation Racing)

3 Austin KILLIPS (nice bikes)

4 Hannah ARENSMAN (Ignition p-b Rigd-Leitner)

5 Jenna LINGWOOD (Point S Nokian)

6 Anna MEGALE (Comp Edge Racing)

7 Sunny GILBERT (Blue Competition Cycles p-b Build)

8 Caitlin BERNSTEIN (nice bikes)

9 Georgia GOULD (Georgia Gould Coaching)

10 Emily WERNER (Emmys Sweets pb Kens Bike Shop)

2023 Elite Men Top 10 at Cyclocross Nationals

1 Curtis WHITE (Steve Tilford Foundation Racing)

2 Eric BRUNNER (Blue Competiton Cycles p-b Build)

3 Kerry WERNER (Kona Adventure Team)

4 Scott FUNSTON (Blue Competiton Cycles p-b Build)

5 Lance HAIDET (L39ION of Los Angeles)

6 Caleb SWARTZ (ENVE Composites)

7 Tobin ORTENBLAD (Santa Cruz Bicycles)

8 Ben FREDERICK (The Small Monsters Project p-b Ritchey-Ornot)

9 Jonathan ANDERSON (J Moneys Racing)

10 Casey HILDEBRANDT (unaffiliated)

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