Manon Bakker and Tofik Beshir Win Charm City Cross Day 1 C1 Races

Manon Bakker and Tofik Beshir secured solo victories in the C1 races at the Charm City Cross in Baltimore, Maryland, marking the third round of the US Cyclocross Series. Both riders claimed their fourth victory in five series races, as cyclingnews.com reported.

Manon Bakker Extends Winning Strategy in Baltimore

Bakker led the elite women’s C1 race from the first lap, utilizing the same tactical approach that defined her series campaign. Coming off her first loss of the season on Day 2 at GO Cross, the Dutch rider focused on eliminating errors. Today, I had a lot better focus and made no mistakes in the race, Bakker stated.

Lauren Zoerner set the early pace going up Mansion Hill and across the off-camber section on lap one. Bakker made her decisive move on the descent, creating separation from her series rival, Sidney McGill. Behind the leading duo, a chase group formed featuring Mia Aseltine, Nico Knoll, and Kaya Musgrave. McGill ultimately shook off Aseltine on the climb with two laps remaining, crossing the finish line 34 seconds behind Bakker to take second place, while Aseltine finished third, 14 seconds further back.

Tofik Beshir Claims Homecoming Victory for Kelly Benefits Strategies Mentorship

The elite men’s race brought a sentimental victory for 19-year-old Beshir, who competed at Charm City for the first time six years ago. Baltimore serves as the hometown of Marc Frazer, the team director at Kelly Benefits Strategies Cycling who mentored Beshir during his early career. To win in his hometown—that’s special, Beshir said. He’s the one that got me into the sport and it really means a lot to me.

Pan-American champion Andrew Strohmeyer attacked hard from the start, building a 15-second gap by the third lap despite working to regain full form following an early-season injury. Beshir fought through traffic after a crash on a corner, bridged the gap to Strohmeyer, and settled onto his wheel. I knew Strohmeyer wasn’t going to slow down because he’s legit, Beshir explained. I knew I need to pull him back slowly. I didn’t want to burn myself out. Strohmeyer eventually faded back to the chase group, leaving Beshir alone at the front with three laps to go. Tyler Clark subsequently attacked the chasing pack on the final lap to finish second, 18 seconds behind Beshir, while Dylan Zakrajsek secured third place on Mansion Hill.

Contrasting Course Conditions Across USCX Venues

Coverage of the broader USCX calendar highlights distinct structural differences between race locations. Virginia’s Blue Ridge GO Cross in Roanoke presented a fundamentally different physical challenge characterized by an extensive sandpit and minimal technical sections, which Bakker described as resembling a road race that forces riders to stay full gas the whole time. In contrast, the Baltimore venue relies heavily on punchy climbs like Mansion Hill and demanding off-camber sections that immediately punish handling errors.

Looking ahead to the conclusion of the weekend, the UCI C2 race schedule on Sunday features a reversed course layout. Overnight rain threatens to introduce slick conditions that will alter tire selection and cornering trajectories just as the overall three-event series champions are officially crowned.

I wanted to follow him because he is incredible, Beshir said of racing behind Strohmeyer. I know he’s not having a great season, but, just following him, you can tell he has a lot of experience and I’ve always admired him. I was definitely excited to follow his lines and learn new things from him.