Our coverage is brought to you in part by Feedback Sports. Check out the company’s ultra-portable Omnium trainer.
In close cyclocross races, the smallest things can make a big difference. Line choices, moments of hesitation and more can provide the opportunity needed for a competitor to capitalize.
On Saturday in the Junior Women’s 11-12 race, Haydn Hludzinski (Boulder Junior Cycling) got such an opportunity. The course in Reno has long since dried out after early week rains, and the technical off-camber is becoming slick and dusty.
Haydn Hludzinski leads riders early in the race. Junior Women, 11-12. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
After one lap, Vida Lopez De San Roman got off the front with Hludzinski and the two battled wheel-to-wheel. They were still together halfway through the last lap with only the technical climb and descent to go. It was there, the race changed.
“[Vida] fell on the S-turn, and I got by her there, and then I just went for it,” said Hludzinski. After the late-race shakeup, Hludzinski successfully navigated through Jurassic Park and emerged onto the finishing straight as a National Champion.
Her late-race move finished an entire contest where Lopez De San Roman and her got to engage in high-level race strategy. “I had to think where I should pass her and then she would pass me back,” she said. “Then I’d be like, oh no, I’m going to try to sit on her for this much and then try to pass her.”
Haydn Hludzinski and Vida Lopez De San Roman battled back and forth during the race. Junior Women, 11-12. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
Hludzinski was helped by her bike handling skills. Saturday’s win was her third cyclocross national championship, and she has also won two mountain bike national championships. The section was tailor-made for a late-race move. “I love technical riding, it’s really fun,” she said.
Lucy Voss finished on the podium in Reno. Junior Women, 11-12. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
Lopez De San Roman finished a close second in her first Cyclocross Nationals and Lucy Voss (Avout Racing) finished third.
Jorja Bond had a top five ride on Saturday. Junior Women, 11-12. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
Interviews, photos and results are below.
Post-race congrats were in order. Junior Women, 11-12. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
Charli Grosenheider leads a group of riders. Junior Women, 11-12. 2018 Cyclocross National Championships. © D. Mable/ Cyclocross Magazine
Junior Women's 11-12 Results: 2018 Reno Cyclocross Nationals
| Place | Bib | LAST | First | Team | City ST | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | HLUDZINSKI | Haydn | Boulder Junior Cycling | Boulder CO | 14:35 | |
| 2 | 5 | LOPEZ DE SAN ROMA | Vida | CX Nation | Sebastopol CA | 14:55 | 20 |
| 3 | 9 | VOSS | Lucy | Avout Racing | Lakewood CO | 15:04 | 29 |
| 4 | 10 | SARKISOV | Alyssa | Rock Creek Velo | North Potomac MD | 16:10 | 1:35 |
| 5 | 6 | BOND | Jorja | Rage Cycling Team | Louisville CO | 16:14 | 1:39 |
| 6 | 1 | GROSENHEIDER | Charli | Le Mars IA | 16:39 | 2:04 | |
| 7 | 8 | POWERS | Raven | GS Forza Cycling | Englewood CO | 16:56 | 2:21 |
| 8 | 13 | ASPHOLM | Finley | Finkraft Cyling Team | Haworth NJ | 17:27 | 2:52 |
| 9 | 12 | TUPAZ | Shantelle | Pleasanton CA | 17:30 | 2:55 | |
| 10 | 15 | FERGUSON | Jennie | Le Mars IA | 18:10 | 3:35 | |
| 11 | 3 | CORTOPASSI | Kennedy | Rio Linda CA | 18:22 | 3:47 | |
| 12 | 4 | CHEN | Eire | Team Velosport Junior & U23 Dev | Del Mar CA | 18:34 | 3:59 |
| 13 | 7 | MCKEE | Kayden | Grixsen Brewing p/b West End Bi | Vancouver WA | 18:37 | 4:02 |
| 14 | 2 | O'BRIEN | Kieu-Vi | Sunnyvale CA | 20:33 | 5:58 | |
| 15 | 11 | BRESSLER | Stella | Bellingham WA | 22:06 | 7:31 |
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.
