Marlies Mejías anchors 11-rider roster

US women's Continental squad adds U23 rider Kenna Pfeiffer and emerging talent Marj Rinaldo for 'one of the most exciting mixes of returning leaders and new talent we’ve ever had'

Six riders with national championship victories this past season across road and track will anchor an 11-rider roster for Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28 for the 2026 season. Cuban Marlies Mejías leads the way along with US riders Emily Ehrlich, Anna Hicks, Bethany Ingram, Olivia Cummins and Ella Sabo.

Along with the roster confirmation, General Manager Nicola Cranmer confirmed to Cyclingnews that title sponsor Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge would continue for a fifth year to support the team which she founded in 2005 as a pathway to the Olympic Games each quadrennial period. Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28 is the only US women's UCI Continental-level team in North America for 2026.

"As I head into year 21 with this program, I'm filled with gratitude that we're still able to grow a meaningful development pathway," Cranmer said. "We've built something special here in Virginia's Blue Ridge - where a young rider can see a clear line from their first local race all the way to a championship event. Our 2026 roster is one of the most exciting mixes of returning leaders and new talent we've ever had."

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Full story: https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/teams-riders/my-season-will-look-very-different-marles-mejias-anchors-11-rider-roster-emphasising-track-events-in-2026-for-virginias-blue-ridge-twenty28/

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