A Dream Earned: Representing Team USA at the 2026 UCI Para-cycling World Championships
There are certain moments in an athlete’s career that make every early morning, every difficult workout, every setback, and every sacrifice worth it. Being named to the 2026 USA Cycling World Championship Team is one of those moments.This September, I’ll have the honor of representing the United States at the 2026 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, where the world’s best para-cyclists will compete for the rainbow jersey. Simply earning a spot on Team USA is something I don’t take for granted, and it’s a reflection of years of dedication—not just from me, but from everyone who has supported this journey.
The Road to Team USA
Making a World Championship team is never about one race or one training block. It’s the result of countless hours spent building fitness over months and years.This season has been one of the most encouraging of my career. Competing against the world’s best during the UCI Para-cycling World Cups in Belgium and Italy showed me just how much progress I’ve made. While the results may not have been podium finishes, they demonstrated that the gap between myself and the very best riders in the H3 class continues to shrink.In Belgium, I finished just seconds away from a top-five performance in the time trial while remaining with the lead group during the road race. In Italy, I crossed the line only 34 seconds behind the podium in one of the deepest and most competitive H3 fields we’ve ever seen.Those performances weren’t just numbers on a results sheet—they were confirmation that the work is paying off.Now comes the opportunity to take another step forward.
The Final Preparation
With the World Championships approaching, every training session has a purpose. One of the biggest pieces of my preparation will be spending three weeks training in Flagstaff, Arizona, one of the premier altitude-training destinations in the United States. Sitting at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level, Flagstaff has become a training base for many Olympic and world-class endurance athletes because of the unique physiological adaptations altitude can provide.When athletes train at higher elevations, the reduced oxygen availability forces the body to adapt. Over time, those adaptations can include:Improved oxygen delivery throughout the bodyIncreased red blood cell productionGreater aerobic efficiencyEnhanced endurance performance when returning to lower elevationsWhile altitude isn’t a shortcut to fitness, it can provide an important performance advantage when combined with consistent, high-quality training. The goal during my time in Flagstaff is to continue building aerobic capacity, fine-tune race-specific efforts, and arrive in Huntsville stronger, fresher, and more prepared than ever before.
More Than Physical Preparation
Training for a World Championship isn’t only about physical fitness. Recovery becomes just as important as the workouts themselves. Nutrition, hydration, sleep, mobility, equipment preparation, and mental focus all play critical roles during the final weeks leading into a major championship.Every detail matters.The difference between finishing tenth and standing on the podium can be measured in seconds—or even fractions of a second. At this level, success often comes from consistently doing the small things well.
Grateful for the Journey
No athlete reaches this stage alone. I’m incredibly thankful for my coach, Ralf Lindschulten, whose guidance and belief have helped me continue improving year after year. I’m equally grateful to Team PossAbilities, whose support allows me to chase these opportunities while proudly representing an organization that believes in breaking barriers and creating opportunities through sport.Most importantly, I’m thankful for my wife and family. Elite sport requires sacrifices from everyone involved, and their encouragement, patience, and unwavering support make this journey possible. Every training camp, every trip overseas, and every race is something we accomplish together.
Eyes on Huntsville
The work isn’t finished. Making Team USA is an incredible achievement, but it’s also the beginning of the next chapter. The focus now shifts entirely toward arriving in Huntsville ready to perform at my absolute best against the strongest field in the world.I’ll continue sharing updates throughout my training camp and preparations as World Championships draw closer. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. Your encouragement means more than you know, and I’m honored to represent both Team PossAbilities and the United States on cycling’s biggest stage. Next stop: Flagstaff. After that, it’s Huntsville.The countdown to the World Championships has officially begun.
