Athletes battled virtually this weekend during the second annual eSport National Championship.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The USA Cycling & Cycling Canada eSport National Championship presented by Wattbike took place this weekend. Contestants competed virtually through RGT Cycling. The races were packed full of exciting futuristic-feeling competition, with athletes from all over the United States competing virtually for the gold.
Racing kicked off Saturday morning for the age-group categories. In the Women's 40-44 category, Christie Tracy (Austin, TX; 3T / Q+M Cycling Team) finished strong with a win. Kelly LaLima (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; BMC - VOID CYCLING – USWE) took first in the Women's 45-49 race. Beth York (Pembroke, Mass.) finished in first for the Women's 50-54 category. In the Women's 55-59 category, Andi Smith (Bend, Ore.; Sunnyside Sports) had a fantastic race and took gold. Patricia Sacco (Reading, Vt.; Upper Valley Velo), Margaret Thompson (Clinton, N.Y.; Team Hammer Nutrition) and Wendy Skean (Nathrop, Colo.; Hammer Nutrition) all placed first in the Women's 60-64, 65-69 and 75-79 categories, respectively. Of the few younger female competitors, Natalie Rehklau (Billings, Mont.) took home the win for the Women's U17 race at 16-years-old.
At racing age 15, Cian Connolly (Baltimore, Md.; Baltimore Youth Cycling) took first in the Men's U17 division. Liam Adams (Stillwater, Minn.; Northstar Development) raced hard and won first in the men 17-18 division. Our Master's age groups were stacked. Dave Garguilo (Brooklyn, N.Y.; CRCA/Foundation) won the Men's 35-39 race. Brad Greenberg (Arlington, Va.; NeXT eSport p/b Enshored) outrode his competitors to take the win in the Men's 40-44 race and Brian Kellison (Turlock, Calif.; Pen Velo Racing/Summit Bicycles) came out on top in the Men's 45-49 race. In the Men's 50-54 category, Paul Lengermann (Bethesada, Md.; NeXT eSport p/b Enshored) walked away with the gold and in the Men 55-59 race, Joseph Meyer-Fuchs (Oakland, N.J.; SCS Guttenplan/ JGS) won. Kevin Metcalfe (Pleasant Hill, Calif.; Creative Blue Monster Racing) had a strong performance to take gold in the Men's 60-64 race. In the Men's 65-69 race, Jeffrey Moreton (San Gabriel, Calif.; SC Velo) finished on top. Finally, in our Men's 75-79 division, Scott Bulfinch (Lincoln, Neb.; Team KAOS) took home the gold.
Sunday brought the premier races with the Category 1/2 racers. With the 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships next weekend, some of the Team USA athletes first battled it out at Nationals.
In the Women's race, two-time eSport Cycling Worlds competitor Jacqueline Godbe (Chicago, Ill.; Saris/ NoPinz) took first over Saturday's 40-44 National Champion Christie Tracy (Austin, TX; 3T / Q+M Cycling Team).
In the Men's race, Scott Catanzaro (Washington, D.C.; NeXT p/b Enshored) was victorious over Brad Bickley with Team USA Esports athlete Zach Nehr (Milwaukee, Wis.; NeXT p/b Enshored) taking the bronze.
Congratulations to all the participants! A full list of results can be found here.
The 2023 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships take place on Saturday, February 18. Meet the team, here.
