Key Takeaways
- American junior cyclists earned top-20 spots in various European cyclocross races during the ‘Kerstperiode’ holiday season
- Notable performances included Matthew Crabbe’s 12th place in the junior men’s race in Antwerp, and Vida Lopez de San Roman’s 13th place in the elite women’s race at the UCI World Cup in Gavere
- American riders also competed in the X20 Trofee Series, with Jacob Hines taking 6th place in Hofstade and Henry Coote placing 16th in U23 men’s racing in Loenhout
- The UCI World Cup in Dendermonde saw Henry Coote take 13th place in the U23 men’s race, while Alyssa Sarkisov and Lizzy Gunsalus finished 19th and 20th in the elite women’s race
- The ‘Kerstperiode’ concluded with the UCI World Cup in Zonhoven, where Tessa Beebe placed 6th in the junior women’s race and Kira Mullins finished 9th
Introduction to the Kerstperiode
The ‘Kerstperiode’, or holiday season, of European cyclocross racing saw American junior cyclists earn a flurry of top-20 spots in various competitions. The busy period, which stretched from late December to early January, featured a number of high-profile events, including the UCI World Cup and the X20 Trofee Series. American riders from teams such as EuroCross Academy, Trinity Racing, and CXD Trek Bikes competed against top talent from around the world, with many achieving impressive results.
Antwerp and the Start of the Kerstperiode
The Kerstperiode began on December 20 in Antwerp, Belgium, where American juniors made a strong start to the season. Matthew Crabbe, riding for EuroCross Academy, placed 12th in the junior men’s race, while his teammates Anna Olesen, Stella Lehman, and Hadley Molnar finished 7th, 10th, and 11th respectively in the junior women’s race. These results set the tone for a successful period of racing for American juniors, with many more top-20 finishes to follow in the coming weeks.
X20 Trofee Series: Hofstade and Loenhout
Two weekends of Belgian racing in the X20 Trofee Series saw EuroCross Academy rider Jacob Hines battle through a huge field to take 6th place in Hofstade. A week later in Loenhout, U23 men’s national champion Henry Coote, riding for Trinity Racing, placed 16th in U23 men’s racing, while Anna Olesen finished 20th in junior women’s racing. These results demonstrated the strength and depth of American cycling talent, with riders from different teams and age groups achieving success in different events.
UCI World Cup: Gavere and Dendermonde
The UCI World Cup events in Gavere and Dendermonde, Belgium, saw American riders continue to impress. In Gavere, 19-year-old Vida Lopez de San Roman, riding for Trinity Racing, placed 13th in a packed elite women’s race, finishing 4th in the U23 category. Fellow teen Lidia Cusack, riding for CXD Trek Bikes, finished 19th in a field of 66 women. In Dendermonde, Henry Coote was the top-placing American, taking 13th in a tight U23 men’s race with a field of 60 riders. Alyssa Sarkisov and elite women’s national champion Lizzy Gunsalus battled their way through a starting group of 88 riders to finish one second apart, placing 19th and 20th respectively in elite women’s racing.
New Year’s Racing: Baal and Zonhoven
The new year began with the X20 Trofee Baal-GP Sven Nys, where Vida Lopez de San Roman kicked off the year with a 10th-place spot in the elite women’s race. Katherine Sarkisov, riding for CXD Trek Bikes, was 13th, while Henry Coote placed 17th in the U23 men’s race. The following week, the UCI World Cup in Zonhoven saw Tessa Beebe, riding for EuroCross Academy, place 6th in the junior women’s race, with Kira Mullins, riding for Bear National Team, finishing 9th. Lidia Cusack and Vida Lopez de San Roman earned top-20 spots in the elite women’s race, with Cusack placing 18th and San Roman 20th.
Conclusion of the Kerstperiode: Benidorm
The official Kerstperiode concluded with the UCI World Cup in Benidorm, Spain, where U23 national champion Henry Coote placed 13th in fast and furious U23 men’s racing, matching his 13th-place finish at Dendermonde. This result capped off a successful period of racing for American juniors, who had achieved numerous top-20 finishes in various events throughout the Kerstperiode. The experience and success gained during this period will likely serve as a valuable foundation for future competitions, both domestically and internationally.
