ROANOKE, Virginia — September 12, 2023 — Roanoke, VA resident Marlies Mejias and her Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 teammates made history last week in St. Louis, MO at the Gateway Cup, with Mejias becoming the first female in the event’s 37-year run to win all four races in the series. In 2022, Mejias won three of the four criteriums.
The 37th edition of the Bommarito Audi Gateway Cup was the tenth and final stop of the American Criterium Cup, the top professional series in the United States. All four races took place in the heart of unique St. Louis neighborhoods, each presenting a challenging and dynamic criterium course. Marlies Mejias, Sofia Arreola, and Dani Morshead traveled from Indy Crits to the Gateway Cup and they were joined by recently crowned double world champion, Jennifer Valente, to race over Labor Day weekend.
The racing was fast and furious with a peloton composed of some of the best criterium racers in the country. The crowds were enthusiastic, cheering the athletes the entire weekend. The temperatures were hot and the beer cold, DJs dropping the latest hits along with some classic house and old school rap. The weekend was a big party for the neighborhoods, spectators, and the athletes.
2023 Gateway Cup Results
Day 1 Tour de Lafayette (Friday, Sept. 1)
1. Marlies Mejias Garcia (CUB) UCI Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
2. Samantha Schneider (USA) L39ION of Los Angeles
3. Harriet Owen (GBR) UCI DNA Pro Cycling
Day 2 Tour de Francis (Saturday, Sept. 2)
1. Marlies Mejias Garcia (CUB) UCI Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
2. Aubrey Drummond (USA) Austin Aviators
3. Skylar Schneider (USA) L39ION of Los Angeles
Day 3 Giro Della Montagna (Sunday, Sept. 3)
1. Marlies Mejias Garcia (CUB) UCI Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
2. Samantha Schneider (USA) L39ION of Los Angeles
3. Skylar Schneider (USA) L39ION of Los Angeles
Day 4 Benton Park Classic (Monday, Sept. 4)
1. Marlies Mejias Garcia (CUB) UCI Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24
2. Samantha Schneider (USA) L39ION of Los Angeles
3. Skylar Schneider (USA) L39ION of Los Angeles
VBR TWENTY24 stood on the top step of the podium in all four races, collected plenty of primes, and had a lot of fun along the way feeling the embrace of the city, the spectators, and the energy of the entire event.
“While Mejias was the one who finished in the spotlight, she is impeccable at working with the team’s strategy and the support of her exceptional teammates,” said Nicola Cranmer, team founder and general manager. “Mejias is clearly the quickest head-to-head sprinter racing in North America, but it’s all about teamwork, positioning, and execution in the closing laps. Sofia closed gaps and tagged breaks, Jennifer did the same but also had four spectacular last-lap lead-outs. The formidable experience of the L39ION train is never easy to beat whether it’s a duo or a full team—their craft is criterium racing. We have a different style of racing criteriums and as the season progressed, we honed our dynamic style resulting in Mejias and the team taking five wins out of the last six criteriums we have competed in. Healthy competition raises everyone’s game.”
“While Mejias was the one who finished in the spotlight, she is impeccable at working with the team’s strategy and the support of her exceptional teammates,” said Nicola Cranmer, team founder and general manager. “Mejias is clearly the quickest head-to-head sprinter racing in North America, but it’s all about teamwork, positioning, and execution in the closing laps. Sofia closed gaps and tagged breaks, Jennifer did the same but also had four spectacular last-lap leadouts. The formidable experience of the L39ION train is never easy to beat whether it’s a duo or a full team—their craft is criterium racing. We have a different style of racing criteriums and as the season progressed, we honed our dynamic style resulting in Mejias and the team taking five wins out of the last six criteriums we have competed in. Healthy competition raises everyone’s game.”
The team practiced new tactics daily to mix things up among the competition and it paid off. Unfortunately, Dani crashed during the second race and was unable to complete the series. The team adjusted their plan and ultimately raced to an unprecedented victory.
“These last few days have been incredibly exciting, not only for having won the four races, but for the great work of the whole team,” said Mejias. “It was the incredible strategies executed perfectly with a little patience, the perfect lead outs by Jennifer, and the best teammates Sofia and Dani that helped us achieve the best outcome we could have hoped for. Having my daughter with me at the race is the best motivation for me and I couldn't do it without the support of the entire team. Leaving everything out there in every sprint is the least I can do for this incredible team.”
