CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The 2026 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships presented by Spilman Thomas & Battle brought six days of elite racing to Charleston, where 18 cyclists claimed national titles and earned the coveted Stars-and-Stripes jerseys.
The championships featured time trial, criterium and road race competitions, with athletes from across the country competing in junior, under-23 and elite divisions.
Time trial champions included Kashus Adamski of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (junior men), Liliana Edwards of Washington, D.C. (junior women), Kade Kreikemeier of Fort Collins, Colorado (U23 men), Kylee Hanel of Portland, Oregon (U23 women), Artem Shmidt of Cumming, Georgia (elite men), and Taylor Knibb of Boulder, Colorado (elite women).
Criterium champions were Gregory DeBenedetti of Boulder, Colorado (junior men), Emma Jimenez Palos of Miami, Florida (junior women), Alejandro Che of Torrance, California (U23 men), Ella Sabo of Redlands, California (U23 women), Luke Elphingstone of Boulder, Colorado (elite men), and Kendall Ryan of Ventura, California (elite women).
Road race national champions included Enzo Hincapie of Greenville, South Carolina (junior men), Sophia Wellmeier of Corte Madera, California (junior women), Ashlin Barry of Boulder, Colorado (U23 men), Katherine Sarkisov of North Potomac, Maryland (U23 women), Quinn Simmons of Durango, Colorado (elite men), and Kate Courtney of Portola Valley, California (elite women).
Throughout the week, neighborhoods along the race routes embraced the event with watch parties and community celebrations, including gatherings on Bridge Road and Wertz Avenue. Local restaurants, breweries and retailers also welcomed athletes and visitors with cycling-themed merchandise, special promotions and signature beverages.
The Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau said economic impact figures from the championships will be released at a later date.
Planning is already underway for the 2027 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships, with event dates expected to be announced later this year.
