Lauren Stephens defends women's title at US Gravel National Championships

Lauren Stephens (Cynisca Cycling) repeated a solo ride across the line in Gering, Nebraska to win a second elite women's title at US Gravel National Championships. Lauren De Crescenzo (Factor-The Feed-Maxxis-Castelli) earned the silver and Paige Onweller (Trek Driftless) took bronze.

This year Stephens completed the 131.5-mile course in western Nebraska in 6:31:44, which was a little more than 14 minutes faster than the inaugural edition in 2023.

The fast, dry conditions saw De Crescenzo finish just 1:21 back, and Onweller was 2:46 off the pace. A fourth-place finisher last year, De Crescenzo crashed out of SBT GRVL three weeks ago and sustained a broken collarbone, and she was questionable to line up for the event.

"Just getting to the start line will be a huge win for me," De Crescenzo said on social media the day before the race.

Fourth-placed Alexis Skarda (Santa Cruz Bicycles-SRAM) was the only other woman in the elite field to finish in single digits behind Stephens, 4:16 back. She and Cecily Decker (Scuderia Pinarello), who was fifth at 13:10, rounded out the top five, which earned them automatic qualifications to the UCI Gravel World Championships in Belgium on October 5.

Jenna Rinehart (Mazda Orange Seal Off-road) and Emily Newsom (PAS Racing), both in the top 10 last year, were the only starters in the 17-rider field not finishing the event. Rinehart crashed just before the mid-point of the race and then rode the next 29 miles solo before calling it a day, while Newsom stopped due to leg cramps and fatigue.

Twelve starters stayed together for the Kirk Chapel aid station at mile 72.2. On the early miles to the third and final aid station, four riders emerged at the front as the lead group - Stephens, De Crescenzo, Onweller and Skarda. 

Then just before the aid station at Peaceful Valley, Stephens surged away on a final climb to take a 25-second lead. 

“I was just focusing on putting an attack in on the last climb. I made my attack on the steepest part and knew straight away that I got a decent gap,” the defending champion said in a USA Cycling press release after the race.

I was a lot less nervous this year than last year. I think there were a lot more unknowns. I was calmer coming into today having done it last year. At 500 metres [to the finish], I just started soaking it all in. It’s really exciting to get to wear the stars and stripes for another year.”

The top seven finishers shared in half of the $40,000 prize purse on offer for elite athletes, Stephens earning $10,000 for the victory and De Crescenzo taking $5,000. In sixth and seventh places, respectively, Whitney Allison (Bike Sports) and Caroline Wreszin (Skratch-Factor) took home the final checks, $250 each.

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