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Luke Heinrich’s (KUHL) dad Christoph knows a thing or two about cyclocross. After all, just this week he won the Masters 50-54 National Championship in Reno on Thursday.

When the elder Heinrich tells his son he has nice pop in his legs, there is a good chance it might be true. “My dad always tells me I’m a good sprinter,” said Luke after his race. “We go to the park and do all the starts and sprints and things like that.”

In Saturday’s Junior Men’s 13-14 race, the younger Heinrich fulfilled his dad’s observation.

The Junior 13-14 men get out to a fast start. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

The Junior 13-14 men get out to a fast start. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Heinrich locked into an intense battle with Beckett Tooley (Latini’s Bicycle Repair) after the two escaped from a large group early in the race. Neither rider could get away from the other as they threw attacks at one another deep into the last lap. When they both cleared the technical off-camber together, it was clear the race was going to come down to an exciting finish.

Luke Heinrich and Beckett Tooley had a close battle throughout. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Luke Heinrich and Beckett Tooley had a close battle throughout. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Heinrich took the lead position after the technical off-camber and led the way to the finishing straight. Heinrich exploded into his sprint and crossed the line ahead of Tooley.

The Junior Men 13-14 race finished with an exciting sprint. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

The Junior Men 13-14 race finished with an exciting sprint. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Turns out, dad was right; young Luke has a mean sprint.

“Beckett Tooley was behind my wheel the whole race and I just kept pushing it, Heinrich said. “After that last turn, I pushed it as hard as I could and I didn’t know I had the win until I was there at the finish.”

Riders head out toward the technical hill. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Riders head out toward the technical hill. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Tooley took home the silver medal for his efforts, and Vaughn Veenendaal (Boulder Junior Cycling) escaped from the chase group to take home third.

Interviews, Photos and Results are below.

Nathan Zollman shoulders his bike. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Nathan Zollman shoulders his bike. Junior Men 13-14. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine

Junior Men 13-14 Results: 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals

PlaceBibLASTFirstTeamCity STTimeGap
1187HEINRICHLukeKUHL Cycling TeamSalt Lake City UT22:23
2197TOOLEYBeckettLatini's Bicycle RepairFrisco TX22:23s.t.
3167VEENENDAALVaughnBoulder Junior CyclingBoulder CO22:3310
4181BROWNIanBend Endurance AcademyBend OR22:4724
5163SPRANGERJackRad Racing NWSammamish WA22:4825
6158WESCOTTTannerBend Endurance AcademyBend OR22:49s.t.
7161MAGUNAdrianApex RacingMercer Island WA23:381:15
8184BURNHAMBrodyDMOS Racing TeamAltoona IA23:531:30
9159WHITEMagnusBoulder Junior CyclingBoulder CO23:581:35
10160STRACHANSeanSan Francisco CA24:302:07
11154SELINEMattTruckee CA24:352:12
12151BAILEYKahillBoulder Junior CyclingLyons CO24:382:15
13176STACKPeterKUHL Cycling TeamSalt Lake City UT24:412:18
14169BAILEYColtonSpin DevoMason City IA25:012:38
15183KANEAidanBicycle Heaven / PVASan Antonio TX25:062:43
16164VAHLBERGNathanMountain View CA25:072:44
17185SIMONSAndrewMelton Design Build/Cari HigginLouisville CO25:092:46
18179ENGLISHDanSan Ramon CA25:263:03
19155KINGCardenBoulder Junior CyclingBoulder CO25:333:10
20153CONAWAYHenryMidwest DevoZionsville IN25:34s.t.
21194CRISMONBenjaminPapa John's Racing TeamLouisville KY25:393:16
22186CASAZZAParkerCycle USeattle WA25:423:19
23195BONINicholasMelton Design Build/Cari HigginErie CO25:453:22
24177LOPEZGavinAlpha Bicycle Co.- Groove SubarDenver CO25:533:30
25152JABERRileyDurango DevoDurango CO26:033:40
26156AUGUSTAndrewPark Ave Bike ShopPittsford NY26:183:55
27173TILGHMANAsherRock Creek VeloOlney MD26:234:00
28165VOSSJacksonAvout RacingLakewood CO26:264:03
29200OLSONLiamMontrose Cycling ClubGlendale CA27:014:38
30171BOWENTannerBend Endurance AcademyBend OR27:144:51
31198ARMONAaronReno NV27:335:10
32196MCCARYLiamT Town EliteSchnecksville PA27:405:17
33168WEISRandyTrek Cyclocross CollectiveGilbert AZ27:535:30
34188WILKYGrantROL WheelsRound Rock TX28:276:04
35157SHELTONMarcisMill Valley CA28:376:14
36172ZOLLMANNathanCentral Junior Cycling DevoLe Mars IA28:546:31
37182HINKLECalvinHammerCrossChapel Hill NC29:006:37
38174WONGLanceEndurance BoiseBoise ID29:046:41
39190THORNEBenicioPortland OR29:237:00
40201BENTONEthanPen Velo Racing/Summit BicyclesBurlingame CA29:257:02
41175WRIGHTAnsonT Town EliteMacungie PA30:077:44
42189HARRISONHalenPortland OR30:338:10
43170MORRISJacobBMB RacingShelburne VT31:018:38
44193HORVATHRudyNew Orleans LA31:158:52
45202THORDARSONOdinnPAA CyclingLos Angeles CA23:09@1Lap

For more from Reno, see our continuing coverage of the 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals on our dedicated Nationals page.

Photos from the races and reports are available to license here, with more to be added throughout the next week.

Haven’t yet entered our Nationals Fantasy Game? Enter your team for a chance to win a set of Vittoria Elusion Disc Wheels and Terreno Dry tires.