Sarkisov Wins Pan-American Cyclocross Title
Alyssa Sarkisov took the elite women's crown at the 2026 Pan-American Cyclocross Championships in Washington, DC, ahead of Lidia Cusack and Sidney McGill.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Cycling
Alyssa Sarkisov won the elite women's race at the 2026 Pan-American Cyclocross Championships in Washington, DC, finishing first after a six-second lead opened by the bell lap. Lidia Cusack took silver six seconds back, and Sidney McGill claimed bronze 36 seconds behind.
Why it matters
The result marks a step up for Sarkisov, who finished second in 2025, and gives the 19-year-old a second strong showing after her seventh-place finish at the Cyclo-cross World Championships in February. McGill's bronze also adds to her standing as the newly crowned Canadian champion.
Sarkisov set the race's fastest lap at 7:22 over the approximately 3.3km course, covering seven laps. Her six-second advantage at the bell lap grew to a 36-second margin over McGill by the finish.
The players
Alyssa Sarkisov
Sarkisov is a 19-year-old cyclocross rider who placed third in the U23 time trial at the USA National Road Championships.
Lidia Cusack
Cusack is a cyclocross rider who finished second in the elite women's race at the 2026 Pan-American Championships.
Sidney McGill
McGill is a cyclocross rider who won bronze at the 2026 Pan-American Championships and is the newly crowned Canadian champion.
The details
Sarkisov and Cusack broke away from the lead group on the third lap, and Sarkisov then delivered the fastest lap of the race to open a six-second advantage by the bell lap. The race was held on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC.
Timeline
February 2026: Sarkisov finished seventh at the Cyclo-cross World Championships.
September 2026: Sarkisov raced the U23 road race at the UCI Road World Championships.
November 7, 2026: Sarkisov won the Pan-American elite women's cyclocross title.
Season Trajectory
Sarkisov's win follows her seventh-place finish at the 2026 Cyclo-cross World Championships in February, marking a rise from second place at the 2025 Pan-American Championships. The result positions her as a rising contender in the North American cyclocross field heading into the next international season.
Sarkisov's second straight podium-level result at a Pan-American event strengthens her case for selection to national teams for upcoming international competitions. Fans tracking North American cyclocross standings will see Sarkisov, Cusack and McGill as the top three finishers from this race.
The takeaway
Sarkisov's rise from second to first in a single year shows how quickly a young rider can convert mid-season form into a championship result. Watch the results of the September U23 road race for the next measure of her progress.
What happens next
Sarkisov is scheduled to race the U23 road race at the UCI Road World Championships in September 2026.
Further reading
For more on the sport's competitive calendar, see Cycling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyclingnews.
