The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will make history in Glasgow, Scotland as the first World Championship where 13 events will be contested across 7 disciplines. 20 Americans will compete in the BMX Racing events on August 12-13, 2023 at the Glasgow BMX Centre.
This event marks another qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Olympic selection procedures can be viewed, here, with the Olympic Qualification Rankings, here.
Team USA has several former World Champions on the team including last year’s winner Felicia Stancil (Lake Villa, Ill.; Factory SSquared/Answer) who will be vying for another chance at the rainbow jersey. Two-time World Champion Alise Willoughby (Saint Cloud, Minn.; Team Toyota/ Daylight Cycle Co.) has been collecting several podiums in the World Cups and other UCI races this season. On the U23 women’s side, McKenzie Gayheart (Fort White, Fla.; Factory Full Tilt/ Radio) will be looking for a podium spot at the World Championships after scoring several World Cup podiums in the class over the past year.
On the men’s side, Pan American Continental Champion Kamren Larsen (Bakersfield, Calif.; Haro Bikes) is fresh off a win in Reno at the USA BMX Blackjack Nationals.
Race favorite Cameron Wood (Phoenix Ariz.; Mongoose/USA BMX Foundation) is missing out on the World Championships after sustaining a shoulder injury at the World Cup opener in Turkey. Also missing from the roster is National Champion Anthony Bucardo (San Martin, Calif.; Haro Bikes) who is recovering from a broken elbow.
New to the team are Cedric Cade (Henderson, Nev.; Remix BMX) and Ava Corley (La Mirada, Calif.; Tangent/ Rift/ Rockstar Racing Team) who have both aged up into the UCI Junior category this season after winning their respective age groups at the 2022 World Championships in Nantes, France.
The Team USA Roster is as follows:
Elite Men
Kamren Larsen (Bakersfield, Calif.; Haro Bikes)
Jeremy Smith (Seminole, Fla.; DK Bicycles)
Joey Leto (St. Charles, Mo.; StayStrongBrand)
Elite Women
Felicia Stancil (Lake Villa, Ill.; Factory SSquared/Answer)
Alise Willoughby (Saint Cloud, Minn.; Team Toyota/ Daylight Cycle Co.)
Payton Ridenour (Pottstown; Penn.; Mongoose Bicycles)
Daleny Vaughn (Tucson, Ariz.; DK Bicycles)
Lexis Colby (Surprise, Ariz.; Gordy’s Bicycles)
U23 Men
Brayden Kempel (Ramsey, Minn.; FXR Factory Super Store)
Drew Polk (Avon, Ind.; Factory LSG)
Spencer Cole (Palm Harbor, Fla.; Supercross BMX)
U23 Women
McKenzie Gayheart (Fort White, Fla.; Factory Full Tilt/ Radio)
Carly Kane (Guilford, Ind.; DK Bicycles)
Junior Men
Cedric Cade (Henderson, Nev.; Remix BMX)
Patrick (PJ) O’Brien (Punta Gorda, Fla.; Albe’s Bike Shop)
Ethan Popovich (Valparaiso, Ind.; Haro Bikes)
Cutter Williams (Potomac Falls, Va.; Tangent/ Rift/ Rockstar Racing Team)
Junior Women
Ava Corley (La Mirada, Calif.; Tangent/ Rift/ Rockstar Racing Team)
Keiley Shea (La Habra, Calif.; 316 Racing)
*As of 7/21/23, Corben Sharrah has declined his nomination due to injury.
For more information on Team USA at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, click here.
For more information on how to watch the BMX Racing events, click here.
