The Junior Men and Women kicked off the road racing events at the 2024 UCI Road and Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Zurich. Thursday morning brought tough conditions, with rain throughout the entire day of racing and cold temperatures.
159 riders representing 60 nations took to the line this afternoon. The starting lineup for the United States included Ashlin Barry (Toronto, Ont.; EF Education-ONTO), Peyton Burckel (Lacombe, La.; EF Education-ONTO), Braden Reitz (Carmel, Ind.; DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE NEWGEN), Noah Streif (Boise, Idaho; EF Education-ONTO), and Gray Barnett (Greenville, S.C.; EF Education-ONTO). The five riders raced throughout Zurich over the course of 127 km, climbing Bergstrasse four times.
The rain was relentless, but Barry managed to hold his position toward the front as the race progressed. Lorenzo Finn (ITA) attacked about halfway through the race on the second descent. In an effort to chase down the leader, reigning World Champion Albert Philipsen (DEN) pushed the pace on the second-to-last descent and brought the group back together with 37 km to go. As the conditions worsened, Philipsen attempted to push on the final descent again but crashed with 23 km remaining, shaking up the lead group.
Finn and Hector Alvarez Martinez (ESP) emerged from the descent in the lead. Finn attacked again and managed to create a sizeable gap. In the fight for silver, Sebastian Grindley (GBR) caught Alvarez Martinez and attacked with 15 km to go. By then, the larger chase group overtook Alvarez Martinez. The battle for bronze was on between Barry, Senna Remijn (NED), and Paul Fietzke (GER). Barry was forced to the front, putting him in a less-than-ideal position for a 100m sprint. The race came down to a photo finish, with Remijn edging out Fietzke for third and fourth, while Barry finished fifth. Burckel was the next American across the line, finishing in the top 15. It was a tough day for the junior men, with nearly half the field abandoning the race.
1. Lornezo Finn (ITA)
2. Sebastian Grindley (GBR)
3. Senna Remijn (NED)
5. Ashlin Barry (USA)
12. Peyton Burckel (USA)
23. Noah Streif (USA)
28. Braden Reitz (USA)
52. Gray Barnett (USA)
120 women took to the starting line in Zurich. Representing Team USA were Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy), Helena Jones (Boulder, Colo.; Team Twenty24), Vida Lopez de San Roman (Sebastopol, Calif.; Bear National Team), and Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomic, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy). The women raced for nearly two hours over 74 km, completing two laps up the Bergstrasse climb.
With 20 km to go, a strong lead group of seven riders formed, but the group split during the final ascent of the climb. Cat Ferguson (GBR), Paula Ostiz Taco (ESP), and Viktoria Chladonova (SVK) broke away and approached the finish line together, knowing the World Title would be decided by a perfectly timed sprint. Ostiz made the first move with 200 m to go, but Ferguson was able to win the sprint. She managed to double up winning the Road Race World Title to add to the Time Trial World Title she claimed earlier in the week.
Sarkisov was in the second major chase group approaching the finish. In the sprint to the line, she accelerated toward the front and led her group across the finish, taking 13th place, just two minutes behind the leaders.
1. Cat Ferguson (GBR)
2. Paula Ostiz (ESP)
3. Viktoria Chladonova (SVK)
13. Alyssa Sarkisov (USA)
30. Lidia Cusack (USA)
50. Helena Jones (USA)
55. Vida Lopez de San Roman (USA)
