The 2026 UCI Para-cycling World Championships in Huntsville, Alabama, were the race I had been working toward all season. From World Cups in Europe to weeks of training at altitude in Flagstaff, Arizona, the goal was to arrive at Worlds ready to compete against the best H3 handcyclists in the world.
World Championships didn’t go exactly the way I had hoped, but that’s part of racing at this level.
A DIFFICULT START
The individual time trial was a tough day. I came into the race confident in the work we had done, but from the beginning, my body just didn’t feel the way I expected it to. I felt tired and never found the power and rhythm I was looking for.
I finished 12th. It was frustrating because of how much work had gone into preparing for that moment. But one of the biggest lessons this sport continues to teach me is that preparation gives you an opportunity—it doesn’t guarantee the result.Sometimes you can do everything you can to prepare and still have a day where things don’t come together.
FIGHTING BACK IN THE ROAD RACE
The road race was different. I finally felt strong again and much more like myself. I was able to race aggressively and compete with some of the best athletes in the world. I ultimately finished 12th again, which wasn’t the result I came to Huntsville looking for, but the performance gave me something important to take away from the week.
It showed me that I belong at this level.The margins in international para-cycling continue to get smaller, and every detail matters. Racing at Worlds reinforced both how far I’ve come and how much room there still is to improve.That is what motivates me going forward.
THE TEAM BEHIND THE ATHLETE
Getting to a World Championship starting line is never an individual accomplishment.
I’m incredibly grateful to **Team PossAbilities** for continuing to support me and giving me the opportunity to pursue this sport at the highest level. That support allows me to travel, train, race internationally, and continue chasing goals that would be extremely difficult to pursue alone.
I also want to thank my coach, **Ralf Lindschulten**, for everything that went into preparing for this season. From training and testing to our altitude camp in Flagstaff, there were countless hours of work behind these two races.
Thank you as well to **USA Cycling** for the opportunity to represent the United States at another World Championships.
And most importantly, thank you to my family. They experience the highs and lows of this journey with me. Their support, sacrifices, encouragement, and belief in what I’m trying to accomplish mean more than any race result.
ON TO WHAT’S NEXT
I would have loved to leave Huntsville with better results on paper. But a World Championship is about more than two numbers next to your name.
It’s about everything it took to get there, what you learn when things don’t go according to plan, and what you do next.
This season showed me that I can compete with the best H3 athletes in the world. Now the goal is to take everything I learned from this year and use it to become better.
There is still another level to reach.
Thank you to Team PossAbilities, my family, Ralf, USA Cycling, and everyone who followed and supported the journey this season.The work continues.