Before joining U-14 Durango DEVO in the spring of 2016, the extent of Lauren’s biking included weekend rides with she dad, where riding the Meadow Loop in Horse Gulch felt like a marathon. She was a big dancer growing up, but that passion faded when she started middle school. She joined DEVO not expecting much from herself but quickly found a hidden love for cycling. After 3 years of developing this new love, she joined her first development team, Rouleur, where her results and passion took off. She got to travel to all the US Cup races and feel what it was like to be a part of a team. She capped off an amazing first year 15-16 season with a 3rd place at Nationals and was excited to see for the 2020 season. Once COVID hit and no racing was around the corner, she focused on keeping riding fun and remembering the saying that Chad Cheeney always refers to, NFTF (never forget the feeling). This saying motivated her to remember why she started in the first place and gave her an appreciation for the town she grew up in and all the talent and inspiration she is around every day. As the 2021 season began, she placed 2nd in the American Continental Championships and was ranked 2nd American all year and top 10 in the world for juniors. Those results led her to the UCI MTB World Championships in Val Di Sole, Italy. This experience was monumental for her; to meet and see the athletes she’s looked up to for so many years and it motivated her to be a contender. She is currently a part of Durango’s very own team, Segment 28. Outside of cycling, she loves to do anything outdoors, such as skiing, climbing, and backpacking, while also being a big Star Wars fan.