Athletes from 40 countries will visit Huntsville September 4-7 in CRP
By: Claire Aiello
We are buzzing with excitement as we round out the final few weeks to a big international competition in the Rocket City! Over Labor Day weekend, September 4-7, para-cyclists from 40 countries will compete in Cummings Research Park (CRP), racing to represent their team in Los Angeles in two years.
The 2026 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships are a qualifying event for the 2028 LA Paralympic Games. When you come to watch the races, and we hope you do, you’ll see athletes who competed in Huntsville in 2023, when we hosted a World Cup, and plenty of new faces as well.
Safety is Critical
Athletes will begin to arrive here in late August, and they will stay in our hotels, dine in local restaurants, and train on our roads. Safety is paramount. You will see cyclists riding handcycles, tricycles, and two-wheeled cycles at all hours of the day, especially in CRP, and we urge you to drive aware and cautiously. “Some handcycles are low to the ground, and these athletes are used to training on the roads in Europe, where cycling is more common,” said Erin Koshut, CRP executive director and local race director. “We will be putting out strong messages about safety and asking you to please spread the word. Please remind your friends, family, and co-workers to be mindful and to drive aware.”
Volunteer Need
We have been recruiting volunteers for several months now, and we thank all who have signed up. The biggest need is for course marshals, as well as food servers, hospitality workers, team transportation monitors, and anti-doping chaperones. Please check huntsvilleparaworlds.com/volunteers to grab a few slots. The volunteer roles are fun and easy and give you a front row spot for the action! We’d love to have you help us. Training will be provided ahead of the event.
Race Schedule
The races are Friday through Monday, Sept. 4-7. Time Trials are on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4-5, and Road Races are on Sunday and Monday, Sept. 6-7. No tickets are needed for any of the races, and you’re welcome to come any day, but we especially encourage you to come on Road Race days. As the final day wraps on Monday, Sept. 7, an exciting Handcycle Relay will close out the competition. Medal ceremonies will be held all four days at different times on a stage behind HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, which will also serve as the Team Village.
Who’s Competing
Approximately 40 countries will compete in the World Championships. Team USA is sending a big roster! In all, 28 U.S. athletes will compete – nine women and 19 men – across all sport classes, including Handcycle (H1-5), Tricycle (T1-2), Cycle (C1-5), and Tandem (B1-3). The roster was selected based on standout performances throughout the season, including results from the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cups and the USA Cycling Para-cycling Road National Championships.
Nine of Team USA’s athletes are U.S. Veterans who served in the Army, Air Force, and Marines!
Leading Team USA are World Cup Overall Champions Samantha Bosco (Claremont, CA), Jenna Rollman (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), and Dennis Connors (Beaverton, OR), each looking to add a world title and rainbow jersey to their already impressive resumes for the year. Reigning C3 Road Race World Champion Clara Brown (Falmouth, ME) will also return to defend her title.
Seven athletes are set to make their UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships debut after impressive performances this season: Jeremy Van Tress (Herriman, UT), Nicholas McCoy (Boerne, TX), Owen Cravens (Caver Creek, AZ) piloted by William Seitz (Birmingham, AL), Grant Simonds (Salt Lake City, UT), Ryan Jastrab (Apple Valley, CA), Justin Mathers (Fayetteville, NC), and 16-year-old Broden Ala (Vail, AZ).
International Standouts
Our international friends enjoyed a wonderful visit to the Rocket City in 2023, and we look forward to welcoming them again.
Three UCI Para-cycling Road World Cups have been held already this year in Thailand, Belgium, and Italy. Competitors were selected for the Championships in Huntsville based on their results in those races, and here are a few of the international standouts you’ll see on our course:
Mitch Valize, Netherlands
Valize is a dominant competitor in the H5 handcycle class! He won gold in both time trial and road race events in the Paris Games and is the five-time reigning UCI World Champion.
CREDIT: John Clifton/SWpix.com
Katie-George Dunlevy & Linda Kelly, Ireland
This duo competes in tandem and has won numerous races. Dunlevy medaled in the Paris Paralympic Games in 2024 as well as Tokyo in 2020.
CREDIT: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Lauro Chaman, Brazil
Chaman has been active on the para-cycling circuit for nearly a decade, winning two medals in the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janiero. He is UCI’s reigning champion in Men’s C5 Road Race.
CREDIT: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Sabrina Custódia, Brazil
Custódia represented Brazil in the 2024 Summer Paralympics and competes in the C2 class. She has won silver medals in the time trial event in 2022 and 2024 at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships.
CREDIT: Jean-Baptiste Benavant
Suzanna Tangen, Norway
Tangen competes in the H4 handcycle category and has won medals in both the World Championships and European Championships over the past few years.
CREDIT: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
This article appears in the August 2026 issue of Initiatives magazine, a publication of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber.
