ROANOKE, Virginia — September 14, 2023 — Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 fielded a junior squad of four athletes and one elite rider for the inaugural USA Cycling Gravel National Championships which kicked off last Saturday in Gering, Nebraska. Forty one categories competed for the opportunity to earn a gravel national title across four different courses: 131.4 miles, 88 miles, 52.6 miles, and 24.8 miles.
The 17-18 Juniors raced 88 miles and the 13-14 juniors 24.8 miles. The weather was hot and the course was perfect but with very little shelter from the blazing sun so plenty of hydration was in order. The team used the Camelbak Chase vest which is perfectly suited for long hot days in the saddle.
After a taxing 88 miles, Lauren Weigel (Oronoco, Minn.; Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY24 DEVO) won the Women’s 17-18 race, with her sister Ragan Weigel (Oronoco, Minn.; Virginia's Blue Ridge TWENTY24 DEVO) taking silver in the same category with teammate Charlotte Lehmann ( (Whitefish, Mont.; Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 DEVO) taking the bronze.
"I went into this race with no expectations and treated it like any other gravel race. I wanted to make the most of this race since it is the first ever Gravel Nats, and well I left it all out there! The course suited me perfectly, it was flat with only a few hills with ample time to recover and refuel.” Commented Lauren Weigel. “ The first 20 miles were pretty calm with only a few minutes separating Charlotte, Elizabeth, and I from Ragan off the back. Towards the base of the second climb Charlotte and I were by ourselves with Ragan not too far behind and catching. Once we hit the top of the climb all 3 of us together in the crosswinds taking pulls. After the downhill is where things get spicy, Ragan and Charlotte started to drop off of the group we were with. I ended up with a minute gap to Ragan and a 4 min gap to Charlotte at the private aid station. At that point I knew I had to dig going up the last climb and increase the gap to them or else they would most likely catch me in the last 15 miles. In the last 5 miles I was 97% sure I had the win but I couldn’t be sure since I didn’t see the other 3 girls since mile 15. In the end, I came out with a win. I couldn’t be happier to have achieved this!”
2023 Junior Gravel Nationals Results
2023 Junior 17-18 Results - 88 miles
1. Lauren Weigel (USA) Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
2. Ragan Weigel(USA) Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
3. Charlotte Lehmann (USA) Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
4. Kindsay Mclaughlin (USA) XCKC DEVO
5. Rachel Pellom (USA) First Flight Devo
2023 Junior 13-14 Results - 24.8 miles
1. Laura Carlin (USA) (Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Donovan Racing Development)
2. Leah Morozowich (USA) (Scottsdale, AZ; Durango Devo)
3. Aine Chen (USA) Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
4. Mia Hudson (USA) (Tucson, AZ; El Group Youth Cycling Club)
“I am so pleased to come in second behind my sister. We have both been working so hard to accomplish this major goal of ours! For me this race was just another gravel race at the start but once it started it quickly turned into a race of endurance and nutrition. Luckily, I have been working on my nutrition and endurance for these long races and it all worked out in the end!” said Ragan Weigel
Rounding out the podium was another Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 junior, Charlotte Lehmann.
“The inaugural Gravel Nationals was a fun experience to cap off the season. I placed a lot of emphasis in the lead-up to this race and was excited to leave everything I had out there in hopes of securing the stars and stripes. The course, upon first glance, looked flat and fast, making for dynamic and hard racing. During the first part of the race, it was every bit of that. Lauren and I pushed ahead at a consistent, fast pace for the first 30 miles until we were caught by Ragan just as we began the first climb and started into the headwind.”said Charlotte Lehnann. “For the next 20 miles, we all worked together with various others through rolling uphill terrain, sand, and a headwind. While difficult, I was feeling good and was confident that this would carry through the rest of the race. As we crested the hill and linked up with a few other racers into a downhill section which turned into the pivotal sand pit section, I found myself having to pull to the side thinking my tire had flatted. While a short stop, this shattered my contact with the group. I linked onto another group and tried to begin chasing back, but as we made it to the aid station, I was still behind and starting to suffer from stomach issues. From mile 56 to the end, it was a solo chase into the headwind through sand and thick dirt. Rolling to line 3rd, I was immediately relieved and excited to have found out about my teammates' successes. Overall, coming away from the weekend was full of mostly positive emotions, and I am excited to apply the lessons from this season to next year. Gravel Nats was an amazing weekend and a race I am very excited to return to!”
Junior team manager, and KX3 coach to the top 3 juniors has been working hard to build the junior squad to their grand finale of the season.
“I’m so proud of Lauren, Ragan, Charlotte, and Aine! They are trail blazers when it comes to competing in the junior ranks of gravel. This was USA Cycling’s first edition of Gravel National Championships and I’m proud that all four of them jumped in to try something new. The course in Gering, Nebraska was out in gravel paradise. Both the 88-mile route and the 25-mile were complete with rollers and a few sustained climbs to offer opportunities for decisive moves throughout the race.” Commented Kaitie Keough KX3 coach and Junior team manager. “Both junior category courses were primarily on pristine gravel roads and some paved road sections to help transition into the aid stations. The 88-mile course had an added challenge of two miles that consisted of rugged singletrack, followed by a blazing fast descent.”
Photo above - 17-18 Podium sweep - photo: Weigel Family
