Varsity + Club Collegiate Omnium Champions Sabo & Gilbert

The 2026 USA Cycling Collegiate Road National Championships, centered around Madison and Waterloo, Wisconsin. Ella Sabo and Emmi Gilbert once again demonstrated the strength of our development pathway, representing both their universities and Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 with determination, professionalism, and class while competing against the nation’s top collegiate varsity and club talent. Full story here: https://conta.cc/4d4hvuU

Collegiate National Championships

Madison / Waterloo, Wisconsin

Varsity Road Race Championship

1. Ella Sabo (USA) Colorado Mesa University / Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
2. Stephanie Lawrence (USA) Marian University
3. Jette Aelken (USA) Savannah School of Art and Design
4. Cassidy Hickey (USA) Colorado Mesa University
5. Tess Edwards (USA) Savannah School of Art and Design

"Early on, we established a break of 5 riders, that included me and another one of my CMU teammates. We grew our gap to over 4 minutes and with half of a lap to go, a rider attacked the breakaway, I followed the attack, and it turned into a group of 3 of us. She tried again, launching a late flyer but in the end we rounded the final corner together, me third wheel, and I won the slight uphill, drag sprint" - Ella Sabo

Club Road Race Championship

1. Emmi Gilbert (USA) University of Arizona / Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
2. Hannah Stackpole (USA) Cal Poly
3. Molly Roberts (USA) University of Michigan
4. Ella Zimmerman (USA) Colorado State University
5. Ellin Hartman (USA) Colorado State University
   

“I went into the race not knowing what to expect from the other teams. I wanted to see if I could try and get away to avoid a bunch sprint. My teammates made the effort hard to keep the speed up and I attacked on one of the backside hills. A couple of riders followed and we formed a break, gaining more and more time. Eventually those riders backed off and I just rode hard all the way to the finish. I couldn’t have imagined a better race, thank you University of Arizona for sending the best squad ever” - Emmi Gilbert

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Collegiate National Criterium Championships

Club Criterium

1. Emmi Gilbert (USA) University of Arizona / Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
2. Molly Roberts (USA) University of Michigan
3. Sylvia Espinoza (USA) University of Colorado

“I looked at the course with my teammates and we decided that the best chance I had to win, was a small break or a solo break. I actually can’t believe they let us get away, but I had some amazing team tactics going on behind me, big thank you to Anika Visser for that one. I still can’t believe I was able to bring two titles back to the University of Arizona.“ - Emmi

Varsity Criterium

1. Stephanie Lawrence (USA) Marian University
2. Ella Sabo (USA) Colorado Mesa University / Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
3. Cassidy Hickey (USA) Colorado Mesa University

Collegiate Omnium Championships

Varsity

1. Ella Sabo (USA) Colorado Mesa University / Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
   

Club

1. Emmi Gilbert (USA) University of Arizona / Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY28
   

“I knew about the omnium points, but I was more concerned with the actual race wins than anything. However, I thought if I won both, I could secure the omnium, I did. It was so awesome to stand next to Ella with our cow trophies. Seeing my Twenty28 teammate out in the wild made my weekend all the more fun and rewarding”  - Emmi

"Winning the individual omnium at Collegiate Road Nationals was a huge team effort from start to finish. After taking second in the team time trial and winning the road race, everything came down to the final criterium. Going into the last day, CMU held a narrow lead over Marian in the team omnium, so every point mattered. The criterium was a flat four-corner course with long straightaways, and although the pace stayed controlled for most of the race, the intermediate sprints were quick. My teammate and I were able to win all four bonus sprints, which played a major role in securing both the individual and team omnium titles. In the final sprint, we put three CMU riders in contention, but were edged out for the win and I finished second. To come away with the overall omnium title and help our team defend the omnium competition made for an exciting weekend of racing." - Ella

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