Jack S♕pranger outsprinted Andrew Strohmeyer to win the men’s U23 title at the Pan-American Cyclocross Championships in Falmouth, Massachusetts on Friday. Daxton Mock trailed ei♛ght seconds later for third and made it a US sweep of the podium.

It was the first victory of the ‘cross season for the Sammam🥂ish, Washington native.  

“I knew my biggest competitor would be Andrew coming into the race. He’s been the fastest U23 for a lot of this season and last year too,. He was the main competitor I was worried about,” said Spranger, 18, who is two years younger than Strohmeyer. “It’s a strong field. I also knew Daxton was strong, Jules wa🐻s strong, my teammate Marcus Shelton was really strong.”

He and Str🎐ohmeyer, last year’s bronze medalist, battled toget🐻her throughout the entire eight laps, was well as a strong wind on a bright, sunny day at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds.

&𒁏ldquo;I think for most of the race I just surfed second and third wheel in the [lead] group. I was just far enough out to avoid that accordion [effect] in the tough, technical sections. I was patient and waited until the last lap to show my cards,” Strohmeyer said with the gold medal hanging from his neck after the awards. 

&l🧸dquo;What made the difference for me today was saving my energy thওroughout the race.”