RESULTS - 2024 U.S. Downhill Mountain Bike National Championships - Mountain Bike News Story

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This weekend, USA Cycling Downhill National Mountain Bike Champions were crowned at Ride Rock Creek near Zirconia, North Carolina. Elite and amateur categories competed on a steep, short course full of technical moves, compressions, jumps and turns. Sunday's race day was a bittersweet affair as Cat 1 30-39 rider, Scott Huntley, sustained injuries on track that ultimately took his life. The incident delayed racing for two hours, but the event ultimately continued. Many have said this is what Scott would have wanted. Our condolences go out to his friends and family.

Austin Dooley won the Elite/Pro 17+ Men's class with a 1:52.475, edging out Aaron Gwin by just .43 seconds on the sub-two-minute track. This is Aaron's first race since injuring his elbow at the Lenzerheide World Cup in early 2023. Notable elite #USDH pros were in attendance and the Top 10 was separated by just three seconds.

Now this is where it gets interesting this year. Asa Vermette, won Pro/Cat 1 Junior 17-18 and also posted the fastest time of the day with a 1:51.399. We've been told that Asa eligible for Elite National Championship status - a UCI-based loophole if you will. Asa's time, faster than Austin Dooley's, earned Vermette an Elite National Champion crown despite his results listed in the Junior category. Dooley goes 2nd and Gwin 3rd in the National Champs rank. Asa is the Elite National Champion. It was explained as a "race within a race" as Juniors were racing at the same time as Elites with no start time delineation between those classes on race day. So for National Champs ranking, the Junior and pro race day times count despite category differences on a results sheet.

Thanks to @Ron_Goldstone , he shared the following from the UCI Rulebook for clarification.

This is what the rulebook says.

4.1.006.

Comment: When a junior downhill rider would score the best time at the national championships, (s)he must wear the elite jersey. The junior jersey is not awarded in this case.

MensNationalChamps — Elite Men's National Championship Podium

JuniorMen.jpg?VersionId=ucLqMpNaNztZBMBBo.ndYy — Junior Men's National Championship Podium

Anna Newkirk remains #USDH National Champ in the Elite Women's class with a convincing 5-second victory over Kailey Skelton. 3rd place in Elite/Pro 17+ Women was claimed by Mazie Hayden, 12 seconds off the pace, but 3rd through 6th were within two seconds of each other in a tight battle.

Similar to the Men's class, however, Matilda Melton earned a bronze medal in the Elite women's National Championship with her time of 2:12 in the Junior class. Matilda has also raced as an "Elite" at other U.S. races, so she's eligible for the Elite podium in Rock Creek. Her time also earned her a National Champion gold in the Junior class. Kale Cushman took silver only 1.5 seconds back with Julia Loftqvist Traum taking the bronze medal.