GIANT RIDERS STORM XC PODIUM AT U.S. MTB NATIONALS!

13 JULY 2021

Stephan Davoust led the Giant Factory Off-Road Team at the USA Cycling MTB National Championships in Winter Park, Colorado, landing two silver medals in elite men’s racing. The 26-year-old Coloradan finished second in both the short track and XC races to highlight a stellar weekend of racing for the team.

Davoust and his teammate Luke Vrouwenvelder were a force in the elite men’s XC race, finishing second and third respectively.

“The whole team came together and asserted our dominance as the most professional team at the USA Cycling National Championships,” said Davoust, who wore the Giant Rev Pro helmet and Charge Pro shoes. “I chose to ride the Anthem Advanced Pro 29 for both the XC and short track, and for my riding style it was perfect.”

The XC course challenged riders with steep climbs at high altitude. The 5-mile circuit climbed nearly 500 feet in the first 1.7 miles. Davoust and Vrouwenvelder were at the front of the action from the start, chasing defending champion Keegan Swenson.

In the end, Davoust finished second, 2:22 behind Swenson, with Vrouwenvelder taking third, another 9 seconds back.

“The course was built around one big climb and a big, fast descent,” said Vrouwenvelder, who chose to race the XtC Advanced SL 29 hardtail. “I paced myself as best I could and managed to finish in the bronze medal position.”

The silver medal marked Davoust’s best-ever elite men’s XC finish. He previously had finished second at marathon nationals (2019) and had been third at an under-23 XC nationals (2015) to go with short-track podiums in 2015 and 2019.

Downhill and Dual Slalom

Matt Sterling, the 2019 Junior National Downhill Champion, represented Giant in elite men's DH and Dual Slalom racing, coming away with top-10 finishes in both events. The 19-year-old, racing in the elite men's category for the first time this year, finished seventh in the DH on his Glory Advanced team bike. He also advanced all the way to the quarter-finals in the dual slalom.

“To say that I am the seventh fastest elite DH racer in the U.S. is pretty awesome,” said Sterling, who wore Giant Shuttle shoes for the DH. “I was hoping for a spot in the top five but am happy with my result. And making the round of eight in slalom is no easy task, as the skills and speed of everyone that qualified are amazing.”

Source:

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/int/news/giant-riders-storm-xc-podium-at-u-s-mtb-nationals/26251