Christopher Blevins and Savilia Blunk Win USA Cycling XCO National Titles

Christopher Blevins and Savilia Blunk secured the elite cross-country Olympic (XCO) titles at the 2024 USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships in Roanoke, Virginia. Blevins reclaimed the men’s national crown, while Blunk completed a dominant week by capturing her third elite women’s title, following her short track victory earlier in the event.

Christopher Blevins Returns to the Top of the Podium

Christopher Blevins (Specialized Factory Racing) took the elite men’s XCO national title on Saturday, crossing the finish line with a winning time of 1:13:54. The victory marks a return to the top of the podium for Blevins, who previously held the national title in 2023.

Blevins and 2024 short track champion Bjorn Riley (Scott-SRAM MTB) established an early lead after the prologue. Blevins initiated a decisive attack during the second lap, distancing himself from the field to ride solo for the remainder of the race. Riley maintained his pace to secure second place, finishing 1:07 behind Blevins. Riley Amos (Trek-Unbroken) rounded out the podium in third, finishing 3:16 off the lead.

Reflecting on the performance, Blevins noted the high caliber of the domestic field, citing the presence of world-class competitors who recently raced the World Cup circuit in Andorra. "I think the level of U.S. Men’s mountain biking is just going to skyrocket these next two years up until the LA Olympics," Blevins said.

Savilia Blunk Claims Dual National Titles

Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing) solidified her status as the top American woman in cross-country racing by winning the elite women’s XCO title with a time of 1:10:55. This win followed her victory in the cross-country short track (XCC) event held on Thursday, giving her a sweep of the elite endurance titles in Roanoke.

Blunk and Gwendalyn Gibson (Trek-Unbroken) remained neck-and-neck through the opening prologue. However, as the race moved into the four main laps, Blunk surged ahead, establishing a 50-second lead that she extended throughout the contest. Gibson finished second, 2:40 behind, while Crystal Anthony (Flow Formulas/Kenda/The Black Bibs) took third place.

"It was a big push to race here on Thursday and today, but it means so much to race in front of a home crowd," Blunk said. "I’m ready for some rest now, but really proud to wear the jersey in short track and cross-country for the next year."

2024 USA Cycling National Championships Results

The event also crowned champions in the U23 and Junior categories. Dan English (Trinity Racing) and Greta Kilburn (Bicycle Express Racing) secured the U23 titles, while Scout Wellmeier and Noah Scholnick, both representing the Bear National Team, won in the Junior 17-18 age groups.