Cyclocross Doubleheader at Nash Dash Sees Caroline Mani and Kerry Werner Take Elite C2 Victories
The opening day of the Nash Dash cyclocross doubleheader in Hampton, Georgia, saw ideal racing conditions, with a dry and sunny Saturday afternoon welcoming riders to the fast, rolling 3.37km course at Nash Farm Park, located south of Atlanta near the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Elite Women’s Race
Caroline Mani, racing for Groove Auto Off Road Racing, dominated the elite women’s contest, crossing the finish line with a comfortable lead. Lidia Cusack (CXD Trek bikes) took second, 1:07 back, while 17-year-old Anna Dorovskikh (Donovan Racing Off Road) secured her first elite women’s UCI cyclocross podium. Dorovskikh, a Maryland native, won the junior women’s individual time trial title in Charleston, West Virginia earlier this year, showcasing her impressive cyclocross bike handling skills. Her cyclocross bike of choice, a CXD Trek, proved to be the perfect tool for the task at hand.
Dorovskikh’s performance marked her second career UCI podium, following her previous achievement at Major Taylor Cross Cup in October.
Elite Men’s Race
Kerry Werner, the reigning single speed champion at MTB and cyclocross nationals, distanced the duo of Scott Funston (Cervelo-Orange Living) and Caleb Swartz (ENVE-Forward Endurance) to take the win. Funston took second, 15 seconds back, with Swartz another four seconds behind in third. Werner’s return to cyclocross action came after a successful stint on his mountain bike, where he secured a third-place finish at Ice Man Cometh in Michigan two weeks ago.
Other Notable Performances
The Georgia cyclocross race, produced for a sixth year by East Point Track Club, attracted a number of riders from L39ION of Los Angeles who are based on the East coast of the US, including:
- Alexis Magner, who moves to Cynisca Cycling in 2025, finished eighth in the elite women’s contest.
- Robin Carpenter finished sixth in the elite men’s race.
- Ty Magner took ninth and shared his thoughts on the event on Instagram, stating, “Such a different effort from the road, but a blast nonetheless.” He also announced his plans to compete in Hendersonville, North Carolina next weekend at North Carolina Grand Prix.
The Nash Dash and NC Grand Prix mark the final stops for the 2024 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Series.
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