The 2024 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships continued-on Saturday morning with the U23 Men’s Road Race. With this being the first road race of the week, riders were on course early to scout it out. Two different courses were used in today’s championship events. The U23 Men competed on the 13.1-mile course that included an additional loop up Bridge Road, while the Junior Men and Women competed on a nine-mile course that looped around the outskirts of downtown Charleston.
The U23 Men had 91 athletes line up on the start line Saturday morning. With dense fog settling on the course, the first few laps of the 148-kilometer race were slick which made riders cautious on the steep descents. With over 1000-feet of climbing per lap, the field dwindled early due to the elevation gain. The first move to stick was made by Evan Boyle (Niskayuna, N.Y.; Hagens Berman Jayco) and Riley Wrightsman (Wauwatosa, Wisc.; First Internet Bank Cycling). After multiple exchanges, it was Boyle who remained out front all day. Focused on controlling the front of the chase group, the Aevolo squad kept their eyes on every move and wouldn’t let anything get away unless one of their riders was involved. It ultimately came down to a sprint finish where Gavin Hlady (Riverside, Calif.; Aevolo Cycling) sprinted against the main field to earn the National Title. Teammate, Brody McDonald (Escondido, Calif.; Aevolo Cycling) crossed the line inches behind Hlady in second and Colby Simmons (Durango, Colo.; Team Visma | Lease A Bike U23) rounded out the podium in third.
- Gavin Hlady (Riverside, Calif.; Aevolo Cycling)
- Brody McDonald (Escondido, Calif.; Aevolo Cycling)
- Colby Simmons (Durango, Colo.; Team Visma | Lease A Bike U23)
The fog had lifted, the heat began to intensify, and the Junior 17-18 Men took center stage after the completion of the U23 Men’s race. 75 athletes were called up to complete six laps on the nine-mile course. Attacks were exchanged throughout the race, but the climb up Wertz Avenue is what really separated the field. With one lap to go, the EF Education-ONTO team stayed focused on controlling the front and pushing the pace on the climb. In a final-lap update from the announcer, Ashlin Barry (Toronto, Canada; EF-Education ONTO) had a 15-second solo lead ahead of the pack. Barry widened that gap and crossed the finish line 1:16 ahead of the group, earning his second National Title of the week. When asked about his win, Barry said, “I can’t even explain it, it feels incredible. I didn’t know how I was going to feel today but my teammates worked really hard to make the race difficult and to try to get one of us up the road. On the last climb my legs were just really good, and I was able to go over the top. Yeah, it feels incredible.”
It was a sprint for silver as the peloton raced around the last turn. With a final push, Braden Reitz (Carmel, Ind.; Decathlon-AG2R LA Mondiale Newgen) earned second and Adrian Groman (Bethesda, Md.; dcdevo Racing) rounded out the podium in third.
- Ashlin Barry (Toronto, Canada; EF-Education ONTO)
- Braden Reitz (Carmel, Ind.; Decathlon-AG2R LA Mondiale Newgen)
- Adrian Groman (Bethesda, Md.; dcdevo Racing)
The Junior Women raced a total of 72-kilometers on Saturday afternoon. 26 athletes battled the hills of West Virginia, but only one would earn the Stars and Stripes jersey. In a race of attrition, the main field dwindled lap after lap, leaving only eight riders in the main field with just a couple laps to go. In the last kilometer of the race, a rider attacked the group but was reeled in by dcdevo Racing Academy. In a strategic move, Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy) led Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy) out in the final stretch which gave her the momentum she needed to cross the line first. When asked about winning the National Title, Sarkisov said, “It honestly feels surreal. I can’t really believe it. I keep thinking, oh is this like a dream? It’s actually amazing. It’s an amazing community here, it’s an amazing course, it was a super fun race, and I’m just super happy.” Jorja Bond (Louisville, Colo.; Boulder Junior Cycling) rolled through in second and Cusack rounded out the podium in third.
- Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy)
- Jorja Bond (Louisville, Colo.; Boulder Junior Cycling)
- Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy)
Racing will conclude tomorrow following the finale events, the Elite/U23 Women’s Road Race and the Elite Men’s Road Race. The Elite/U23 Women will be lining up at 8:00 AM ET and the Elite Men will start their race at 1:00 PM ET.
Follow along throughout the week on social media @USACycling, along with the live timing and livestream on FloSports. Learn more about how to watch here.
Photo By: Snowy Mountain Photography
