Che and Sabo Win Under-23 Criterium National Titles at…
The 2026 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships continued Wednesday in Charleston, where Junior and Under-23 riders competed in high-stakes twilight criterium races. Emma Jimenez Palos, Gregory DeBenedetti, Ella Sabo, and Alejandro Che secured national titles on the technical six-corner downtown course, according to USA Cycling.
Results from the Junior and Under-23 Criteriums
In the Junior Women’s race, Emma Jimenez Palos (City Bikes Miami Racing) launched a decisive attack on the final lap to win solo. Sophia Wellmeier (Team California Academy) took silver, while Tessa Beebe (BYRDS Cycling) finished with bronze. The Junior Men’s event saw 82 athletes compete, with Gregory DeBenedetti (Project Supertraining p/b Vafels) winning a three-up sprint over runner-up Maddox Simmons (Chaney Windows and Doors Big Shark p/b Pastaria) and third-place finisher Diego Duran (DDP Elite Cycling Team).
The Under-23 Women’s race concluded with an eight-up sprint, where Ella Sabo (Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) earned gold. Lyllie Sonnemann (CCB Kenetik p/b Levine Law Group) finished second, followed by Chloe Patrick (Caldera Medical x Aurea Racing). Finally, the Under-23 Men’s race featured a late-race tactical shift by the Kelly Benefits team, leading to a victory for Alejandro Che. Luke Fetzer (Team Cadence Cyclery PB Waldo Racing) took second, and Alexander Scopinich-Burgel (Kelly Benefits Cycling) rounded out the podium.
Did You Know? The Under-23 Men’s criterium was the final event of the evening, with a start time of 9:50 PM, requiring athletes to race for 75 minutes under artificial lights.
Expert Insight
Expert Insight: The technical nature of the Charleston course served as a significant equalizer for the field. By requiring riders to navigate six corners repeatedly, the venue rewarded patience and tactical positioning over pure power. The success of teams like Kelly Benefits in the Under-23 Men’s race demonstrates how coordinated squad efforts can effectively control a high-speed, dynamic criterium, particularly when managing breakaways in the closing laps.
What Happens Next
The 2026 USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships will continue Thursday with the Elite Women’s and Elite Men’s criterium events. The Elite Women are scheduled to start at 6:30 PM ET, followed by the Elite Men at 8:00 PM ET. Fans may view the races via the SCOTT Pro Road Livestream on FloBikes. Additional schedule information and event updates are available through the official USA Cycling social media channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Junior Women’s criterium?
Emma Jimenez Palos won the Junior Women’s national title by launching a successful solo attack on the final lap.
How did the Under-23 Men’s race conclude?
The race ended in a three-man sprint between Alejandro Che, Luke Fetzer, and Alexander Scopinich-Burgel, with Che taking the victory.
When are the Elite races taking place?
The Elite Women’s Criterium is set for 6:30 PM ET on Thursday, and the Elite Men’s Criterium will follow at 8:00 PM ET.
Which of these junior or under-23 performances do you think best highlights the future potential of American road cycling?