Ada Watson Wins U23 Pan-American Cyclo-cross Title

Watson soloed to the U23 women's gold and Miles Mattern led a U.S. podium sweep at the 2026 Pan-American Cyclo-cross Championships in Washington, DC.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Cycling

Ada Watson Wins U23 Pan-American Cyclo-cross Title

Ada Watson won the U23 women's title at the 2026 Pan-American Cyclo-cross Championships in Washington, DC, finishing 19 seconds ahead of Kaya Musgrave. Miles Mattern outsprinted his compatriots to take the U23 men's gold, with American riders claiming the first seven places in the men's results.

Why it matters

Watson's victory was her first UCI win, and she competed in the elite category at all six UCI events contested so far this season. Mattern, 20, has claimed three UCI victories this season in the elite men's category.

Watson won by 19 seconds over Kaya Musgrave, while Aislin Hallahan of Canada finished 27 seconds back in third. American riders claimed the first seven places in the U23 men's race, with Mattern's win coming after three UCI elite victories this season.

The players

Ada Watson

Ada Watson is a U.S. cyclist who won the U23 women's Pan-American cyclo-cross title in Washington, DC.

Miles Mattern

Miles Mattern is a 20-year-old American cyclist who has won three UCI elite men's races this season and swept the Major Taylor Cross Cup.

The details

Mattern outsprinted his compatriots to win the gold medal, leading a U.S. sweep of the U23 men's podium. Watson soloed to victory in the women's race, with Musgrave taking silver and Bridget Wilson and Anna Olesen of the USA finishing fourth and fifth.

Results were recorded on November 7, 2026, at the Pan-American Cyclo-cross Championships in Washington, DC.

Season Trajectory

The Pan-American Championships fall within a UCI calendar where Ada Watson has now started six elite events this season. Mattern's three elite UCI victories and U.S. podium sweep point to a strong American showing in the developmental categories.

Mattern's three elite UCI wins this season and the American sweep of the U23 men's podium make him and his teammates worth tracking in future UCI and cyclo-cross results. For Washington readers, the championship placed the U.S. riders' results in the local spotlight.

The takeaway

The Pan-American results show American U23 riders leading the region in cyclo-cross, with Watson and Mattern both posting multiple UCI-level results this season. Their performances offer a clear measure of where the next generation of U.S. cyclists stands.