Team USA will bring a roster of 28 of the nation’s top para-cyclists to Huntsville this September as the city prepares to host the 2026 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships, the first time the prestigious event has ever been held in Huntsville.
USA Cycling on June 25 unveiled the athletes selected to compete Sept. 4-7 in what is considered the sport’s premier annual event. The championships will bring the world’s best para-cyclists to Cummings Research Park to compete for world titles and the coveted rainbow jerseys.
The event marks a significant step up from Huntsville’s previous international para-cycling events. While the Rocket City successfully hosted a UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in 2023, World Cups are part of a season-long series in which athletes earn points. The World Championships crown the sport’s annual world champions and are regarded as the highest level of competition outside the Paralympic Games.
Team USA’s roster features 19 men and nine women competing across every para-cycling classification, including handcycles, tricycles, standard bicycles and tandem bikes for visually impaired athletes.
Among the team’s headliners are World Cup overall champions Samantha Bosco, Jenna Rollman and Dennis Connors, all looking to add world championship titles to their 2026 accomplishments. Reigning C3 Road Race World Champion Clara Brown also returns to defend her title.
The roster also includes seven athletes making their UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships debut after strong performances this season: Jeremy Van Tress, Nicholas McCoy, Owen Cravens, who will be piloted by William Seitz, Grant Simonds, Ryan Jastrab, Justin Mathers and 16-year-old Broden Ala.
“To compete for world titles and rainbow bands on home soil is a rare and special opportunity. We know the energy and support from the Huntsville community will provide an incredible backdrop for our athletes as they take on the world’s best,” said Chris Furber, USA Cycling’s senior director of paracycling.
“Personally, I am honored and excited to be leading Team USA at my first World Championships with USA Cycling. This team embodies the ambition, resilience and excellence that define our program, and we can’t wait to see what they can achieve this September.”
Nine members of Team USA are military veterans who served in the Army, Marine Corps or Air Force, including handcyclist Ryan Pinney of Phoenix.
The team was selected based on performances throughout the season, including results from UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup races and the USA Cycling Para-cycling Road National Championships.
Huntsville has become a familiar stop for elite para-cyclists in recent years, having hosted U.S. Paralympics Cycling events before welcoming the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup, the first World Cup event ever held in the United States. The success of that competition helped the city secure hosting rights for the 2026 World Championships.
Organizers expect athletes from dozens of countries to compete over Labor Day weekend, bringing hundreds of competitors, coaches, support staff and spectators to North Alabama.
USA Cycling is encouraging the community to come out and support the athletes during the four-day competition. Volunteer opportunities are also available as Huntsville prepares to welcome the world’s top para-cyclists for the city’s largest international cycling event to date.
Team USA roster
Women: Samantha Bosco, Kate Brim, Clara Brown, Allison Jones, Shawn Morelli, Grace Norman, Emelia Perry, Jenna Rollman and Jamie Whitmore.
Men: Broden Ala, Josue Barron, Dennis Connors, Owen Cravens (piloted by William Seitz), Owen Daniel, Tom Davis, Freddie De Los Santos, Elouan Gardon, CJ Howard, Ryan Jastrab, Aaron Keith, Justin Mathers, Nicholas McCoy, Ryan Pinney, Grant Simonds, Matt Tingley, Jeremy Van Tress, Barry Wilcox and Cody Wills.
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