New Zealand’s Rylee McMullen and 18-year-old Canadian Anika Brants carry prime observe skills to a retooled roster for Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 in 2025. The incoming class additionally embrace a trio of US riders – Olivia Cummins, Anna Hicks and Bethany Ingram – who look to strengthen forces for a number of disciplines.
Half of the 10-rider roster options strong performers from VBR’s 2024 marketing campaign, led by Cuban all-rounder Marlies Mejías and Sofia Arreola of Mexico, each signed by means of 2028. Mejías, a two-time Pan-American champion, tallied all of the UCI podiums from final season, which features a stage win and second place on the Tour of the Gila and a runner-up spot at Tour de Gatineau. Arreola, a two-time Worlds silver medalist on the observe,
Emily Ehrlich, a two-time GC winner on the Valley of the Solar Stage Race, brings versatility and reliability to the squad for 2 extra seasons. Additionally returning are under-23 rising expertise Ella Sabo and Paralympic gold medalist Jamie Whitmore, all three from the US.
Notably absent from the roster are five-time Olympic observe biking medallist Jennifer Valente and Leadville Path 100 MTB winner Melisa Rollins. Former US Professional street champion Emma Langley has retired from racing.
“Whereas our staff is basically centered on growing American athletes, bringing Rylee on board is a strategic addition as we broaden our focus to incorporate extra observe biking,” stated Nicola Cranmer, founder and normal supervisor of Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 Professional Biking.
“Rylee brings useful worldwide expertise and a robust work ethic that can assist elevate all the staff. She’s a fantastic teammate with a unbelievable persona and isn’t afraid to place within the arduous work required to succeed. Rylee will even work carefully with the New Zealand Nationwide Group program, which aligns completely with our objectives of supporting athletes on the highest stage.”
Within the new 12 months, the staff will race as Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28, the TWENTY24 Professional Biking staff confirming a continued partnership with Go to Virginia’s Blue Ridge (VBR) for 2025, joined by the Virginia Tourism Company beneath the model, ‘Virginia is for Mountain Lovers’. Different main companions for 2025 embrace Berglund Automotive, Riverdale Roanoke, Zwift, Felt Bicycles and Cotton Sox (previously related to DNA Professional Biking).
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The identify change from TWENTY24 to TWENTY28 is a nod to the event of expertise on the elite and junior ranges for the Olympic Video games. It is going to be the twentieth season for Cranmer’s programme and a fifth Olympiad cycle, this time aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Video games. The programme has seen riders earn 17 Olympic and Paralympic medals.
“Our partnership with Go to Virginia’s Blue Ridge and Virginia Tourism Company highlights the unimaginable native help that makes this area a vibrant hub for biking and out of doors recreation,” stated Cranmer. “The neighborhood’s dedication to investing in Virginia’s sporting id is instrumental in attracting world-class athletes and occasions, creating unforgettable experiences for each rivals and followers.”
New riders
Final 12 months, McMullen competed with DNA Professional Biking, using to second general and in dash factors within the American Criterium Cup collection, earned second on one stage at Vuelta a Colombia Femenina and took third within the Tulsa Robust omnium competitors. She additionally gained two US criteriums throughout Velocity Week in Union Metropolis and School Park, each in Georgia.
On the observe, her accolades embrace a number of medals on the Oceania Championships and a gold medal within the Elimination Race on the 2023 Oceania Championships. She capped her 2024 season with a Nationwide Championship within the Factors Race in New Zealand.
“This staff has proven that they’re able to successful the most important races in North America, and I’m stoked to proceed to develop alongside such robust teammates,” commented McMullen. “With the staff going into their twentieth 12 months, I do know I’m signing with the perfect staff in North America that has a strong basis and a confirmed observe report in growing world-class athletes. I’m completely satisfied to be a part of a program that values a blended calendar throughout street and observe.”
Cranmer was keen about subsequent 12 months’s roster, which she stated displays a dynamic mixture of returning expertise and promising new riders for a schedule of US home and worldwide competitions to “achieve invaluable expertise and pursue excellence on the world stage”.
“At simply 18 years outdated, Anika is a observe specialist bringing powerhouse power to our criterium squad. Olivia Cummins is a proficient all-rounder with a brilliant future in stage racing. Bethany Ingram is a promising athlete with immense potential, on an upward trajectory,” Cranmer said about different new riders who carry out nicely on the observe.
In reality, Ingram and Cummins teamed with Ehrlich and Colleen Gulich to win the Pan-American Observe Biking Championships gold medal within the girls’s Group Pursuit finals final April.
Hicks, a former US junior girls’s time trial nationwide champion, will get excessive marks from Cranmer as a “versatile improvement rider” who gained on SBT GRVL’s blue course on the age of 24. Signed by means of 2026, she was one of many invited riders to compete within the 2024 Life Time Grand Prix, the place her finest end was on the Chequamegon MTB Competition in eighth place.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 roster 2025
- Sofia Arreola (MEX)
- Anika Brants (CAN)
- Olivia Cummins (USA)
- Emily Ehrlich (USA)
- Anna Hicks (USA)
- Bethany Ingram (USA)
- Rylee McMullen (NZL)
- Marlies Mejias (CUB)
- Ella Sabo (USA)
- Jamie Whitmore (USA)