Caroline Mani (Alpha Bicycle Co-Groove Silverthorne) closed out the US Cyclocross Series (USCX) in the same fashion she started it, dominating the weekend's racing, winning the November 5 and 6 Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross, she took the elite women's overall win and first-place prize money at the final race of the weekend.

Mani built a 44-point lead going into the final two races of the eight-race series, 60 points ahead of second-place finisher Raylyn Nass, who finished second on both days of Really Rad. Austin Killips finished the final race weekend just 14 points behind Nass for third place in the series.

"It was a great race. I wanted to be a part of this series and I'm really happy to win," he said of his eight podium finishes, including four wins, and the overall USCX title.

The men's competition at the second USCX event was down to the last three of eight events, with Curtis White (Steve Tilford Foundation) in the Really Rad Festival of Cyclocross, ahead of Eric Brunner (Blue Competition Cycles p/ b build) by three points for the title.

Belgium's Vincent Vestans (Spits CX) opened the series with a commanding lead with five wins and a second place finish for a total of 262 points. He then returned to his home country to take part in a European program, leaving the battle to the American duo of White and Brunner.

On day two of the Charm City Cross, White took the win and moved into second place in the series with 212 points, 19 points ahead of Brunner. Brunner, the reigning U.S. Elite Men's Cross champion, then won the final two rounds at Really Rad, but the points awarded for second place allowed White to hold off Brunner for the series title.

The overall USCX Elite Men's and Elite Women's winners each received $3,000, while the runner-up received $1,800. A total prize purse of $15,000 is new for 2022, and athletes received exposure via live stream broadcast on GCN+ for all elite races.

Mani and White were also overall winners on USA Cycling's pro cyclo-cross calendar. Raylin Nuss was second in the women's individual standings and Brunner was second in the men's individual standings.

Roots Vermont, a popular gravel event that ran for three years, will not return in 2023. Organizers announced this month that the off-road event, which was part of a three-day summer weekend in the Green Mountains, will be "suspended" next year.

"We have been silent for some time as we have been considering the future of Rooted Vermont for many months. Our news is that Rooted Vermont will go on indefinite hiatus in 2023," said a statement from organizers Ted and Laura King and Kirsten Motley.

"We are elated by the overall positivity, especially after the great event in 2022. We feel it is worthwhile to bid farewell to the exuberance of a successful convention."

Rooted Vermont's last jubilation beginning in 2019 was on July 31, when it hosted a sold-out field of 850 riders from a random selection process that included equal numbers of male and female riders and six non-binary athletes.

Roots Vermont prided itself on maintaining a grassroots atmosphere with 45 and 85 mile self-navigated courses, plenty of Vermont-specific prizes but no prize money, and "Mallet Protocol: business up front, party in the back." In addition to the overall male and female winners, there were also non-binary, paracycling, and junior divisions.

"There are changes happening in gravel that each race organization must consider and weigh the risks. As a united team, we have made the best decision for our young families and community," the statement explained. 'Regardless of what happens next, we intend to continue our efforts in this direction through our various activities.' "

Organizers said volunteers who earn free registration for future rides and riders who postpone their entry before the July 15, 2022 deadline will receive an email. The event website will continue to be updated.

Team Skyline confirmed that it has completed the 2023 men's roster for the UCI Continental program, which focuses on stage races and criteriums, with 13 riders from across North America.

The eight new riders on the Pennsylvania-based U.S. team include Canadian Julien Gagné, who transferred from the Premier Tech U23 Cycling Project, and former Toronto Hustle rider David Dubé. Gagné won the GC at both the GP Boris Carraine and GP Charlevoix last year, while Dubé finished 10th overall at the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Returning to the team last season were Mexican Rene Correra, American Chaz Turmon, and the Canadian trio of Lucas Conley, Nick Crevan, and Joseph Lupien.

Management also announced that it will register a women's U.S. national elite program next year. The selection process is still underway, but the team has confirmed eight-time national champion Colleen Gulick as its first signee. Gulick, who holds a PhD in exercise physiology, is a criterium specialist and will enter her 13th season in 2023; in 2022, she stood on the podium 15 times, including a win at the Wilmington Grand Prix and a runner-up finish at the Rochester Twilight Criterium.

"While other teams are looking to Europe to sign talented athletes, we are committed to giving homegrown athletes a chance to reach the next level," says team director Michael Touch. 'We've got some great contracts in place for the 2023 season. Our roster is deep and we look forward to showcasing it."

The men's team will begin competition in March 2023 at the 17-day South Aegean Tour, Rhodes GP, and International Tour of Rhodes on the Greek island of Rhodes. The full team will then hold a training camp before the Tour of the Gila in April.