Fifteen medals earned by VBR T28 athletes, representing four Nations
VBR TWENTY28 Continental Championships Medal Haul
Fifteen medals earned by VBR T28 athletes, representing four Nations
Roanoke, VA February 25, 2026 — I’m finally back in Roanoke, VA for a few weeks, already deep in the logistics for Q2. The snow has finally left the conversation, which means I can safely get out in the garden and cut back the hydrangeas (aka deer salad), butterfly bushes, and the rest of the miscellaneous greenery that somehow survives winter. The farm animals next door are still rocking their jackets, so it’s definitely not spring yet — but we’re getting there.
It’s always a bit of a reset those first couple days home after living in the stage racing bubble — early mornings, constant movement, meals on a schedule, and everyone locked into the same singular mission. It’s intense, it’s simple, and it’s my life.
I drove the team car from Tucson to Redlands in preparation for the next race, and even though it’s a modest six-hour drive, it gave me just enough quiet time for some deep reflection. Post-race is an emotional rollercoaster. Like any sport, the beauty of racing is being fully in the moment — focused, all-in, and moving as one unit to accomplish something together. Going home always sounds good, but there’s also a bit of a letdown when you step away from the vibrancy and dynamics of a race week. The pace slows, the noise disappears, and you’re suddenly back in “real life” with a to-do list instead of a start list.
The good news: we are off to an incredible start to the season. We’ve already had stage racing in Arizona and track racing in Canada and Chile.
Over the past week, we had seven athletes representing four nations at their Continental Championships — six at the Pan American Track Championships in Santiago, Chile, and one at the Oceania Championships in Cambridge, New Zealand. Across the two events, the team collectively earned 15 medals — a strong reflection of both depth and momentum as we build toward the heart of the season. Thank you to USA Cycling for the opportunities and thank you to Marlies's GoFundMe supporters who helped her take the first step in her track campaign.
Thanks for reading, Nicola
Gold - Anna Hicks (USA) UCI CTW: Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
Silver - Yareli Acevedo (MEX)
Bronze - Marlies Mejias (CUB) UCI CTW: Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
“Sometimes you are given one shot to back yourself and prove what you know to be true. That was the Pan Am Points race for me. My cycling career has always been more of a scrappy underdog story than a polished performance. With little experience and sometimes little support I’ve gone out and let my legs do the talking, many times on far from perfect equipment or less than ideal prep. As I’ve gained more support and opportunity I feel less like an underdog and more like a professional, but I still race with the same scrappy mindset and something to prove, especially when I know the race results have 0 impact on my value as a person. I had to learn this the hard way especially back in my running days but it allows me to pursue my potential with freedom and confidence. This “hold my beer” mentality keeps on working so we will keep rolling with it even if others keep calling it beginners’ luck” – Anna Hicks
To read full story: https://conta.cc/40ta74W
