Clara Honsinger, the 27-year-old American cyclocross star, has confirmed she will be stepping away from the sport to focus on her Master’s degree in nutrition science. The decision marks the end of a career that saw Honsinger claim four U.S. national cyclocross titles and achieve multiple podium finishes in World Cup events.
Honsinger’s rise in Europe came during the 2020-2021 season, where she impressed with a string of top finishes. She finished second in both the World Cup races at Namur and Dendermonde and narrowly missed the podium at the World Championships in Ostend, placing fourth. The following season, she captured her biggest victory, winning the prestigious Koppenbergcross ahead of Denise Betsema and Kata Blanka Vas. That same winter, she once again took second place in the World Cup at Dendermonde.
Earlier this year, Honsinger completed her undergraduate studies, managing to balance her education and racing commitments. However, by June 2023, she announced her retirement from road cycling to focus solely on cyclocross. Now, just months later, she has decided to leave cyclocross altogether, fully committing to her Master’s studies this autumn.
Honsinger’s results have been less prominent in the past two seasons, partly due to her time away from the European scene. Speaking to Wielerflits, she described her absence as a period to “recharge,” adding that she needed time to reflect on her career. After finishing fifth at the GP Sven Nys, she said, “I wanted to really recharge and think about how I could be happier this year.”