Louisville, Kentucky - The Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team’s American squad continues racing across the United States as seven riders will be chasing for national titles this week at the USA Cycling Amateur Road Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky.
Fresh off podiums at both the US national professional road race and time trial championship, Neilson Powless of Roseville, California heads into the race as a rider to beat along with teammate Geoffrey Curran of Tustin, California, who won both the U23 time trial and road race at last year’s Under 23 national championship.
Adding depth to Axeon Hagens Berman’s roster are Edward Anderson of Richmond, Virginia, Will Barta of Boise, Idaho, Chris Blevins of Durango, Colorado, Jonny Brown of Austin, Texas and Ian Garrison of Decatur, Georgia. All seven riders are slated to race the 34-kilometer time trial course on Thursday, June 29th followed the next day by a 177-kilometer road race that includes 23 laps around a 7.7-km course in Cherokee Park.
At last year’s U23 road race championship, Axeon Hagens Berman swept the podium by taking the top seven slots and went on to secure the top four spots at the time trial.
Brown, Curran and Owen are all past national champions. Brown won the 17-18 junior road race in 2015-2016. Curran won the U23 time trial and road race last year. Curran captured the 17-18 junior road race in 2013. Additionally, Barta barely missed the podium at last week’s US national professional time trial when he finished fourth.
In national competitions over the past week, Axeon Hagens Berman’s Christopher Lawless took second at the British professional national road race. To date this year, the Axel Merckx-led program has won 11 races and earned 29 podium spots.
By: Fitzalan Crowe
