Stephens, Lange win US gravel national titles
Lauren Stephens has never lost a national gravel championship. In two prior editions, the Aegis Cycling rider powered to the win, and kept her streak alive over the weekend when she rode away from Sarah Lange to take a third straight victory on a hilly course in La Crescent, Minnesota. Lauren De Crescenzo rounded out the podium.
In the elite men's race, an early and dangerous breakaway was out front when Bradyn Lange (Pinarello-Orange Seal) joined a chase with reigning national champion Brennan Wertz (Scott/Skipstone), catching on after a crash in the lead group disrupted momentum. Several other chasers including Alexey Vermeulen (Enve) made contact before Lange slipped away late in a flurry of attacks and counters to take the win. Michael Garrison and Cole Davis (Project Echelon) took second and third, respectively.
