This previous December was the most effective months for California-native Vida Lopez de San Roman, at simply 17 years of age. Her “tremendous particular” cyclocross season earned her the US girls’s junior nationwide title adopted by her first European victory, within the junior division in Hulst, Belgium.
That victory makes Lopez de San Roman the most effective hopes for a medal amongst Workforce USA, throughout all age teams on the upcoming UCI Cyclocross World Championships. Lopez de San Roman turned 18 on January 23 and is searching for a belated birthday celebration in Tabor.
“Profitable my first European race was tremendous particular. Having every part come collectively to win a race in Europe has been one thing I’ve been working in the direction of all season,” she advised Cyclingnews.
And it wasn’t simply her first worldwide CX victory, however she made historical past in Hulst by successful a first-ever premier CX junior girls’s race for Workforce USA, this one at Vestingscross. She additionally did it sporting the stars-and-stripes jersey.
Lopez de San Roman attributed her win in Hulst to technically-sound laps and holding her expectations in verify. She admitted she fell in love with the course throughout pre-rides the day earlier than the race, and all of it got here collectively for the right day.
Whereas the US has had 12 medals on the UCI Cyclocross World Championships in its historical past, solely a type of has been gold – Matt Kelly in 1999. Will Lopez de San Roman make it two? She has the expertise to make it occur.
Lopez de San Roman has already had many different dazzling days with off-road racing – she’s received seven junior medals at US mountain bike nationals, together with a gold in 2019 in cross-country.
She stated it was her household who had set the groundwork for her skills and aspirations. The truth is, earlier than her remaining ramp-up to Worlds at World Cup Benidorm, she spent two weeks with relations in Spain for coaching and “resetting by getting ready mentally and bodily for the upcoming two weeks”.
“I have been fortunate sufficient to have dad and mom who’ve been so supportive of my racing ever since a younger age, but in addition have been former elite athletes of their very own in utterly totally different sports activities who understood my love and dedication for competitors at such a younger age, sacrificing a lot for me to carry me nearer to my desires of being a World Cup stage bicycle owner and believing in me,” Lopez de San Roman enthused about her father Joaquin, who’s from Spain and had knowledgeable tennis profession, and her mom who was a classical ballet dancer.
Whereas her brother, Ian, has additionally been profitable with off-road racing and now strikes to the street with the U23 Aevolo Biking crew, her aunt, Mary McConneloug, was a four-time US mountain bike nationwide champion. McConneloug represented the USA on the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Video games, ending within the prime 10 each occasions within the cross-country self-discipline.
“My older brother, Ian was additionally an enormous affect on me after I was so younger desirous to observe in his footsteps, and continues to encourage me along with his laborious work and success throughout the gravel and street scene. Numerous inspiration and affect additionally got here from my Aunt Mary, who had such a profitable profession as a multiple-time Olympian {and professional} mountain biker, who I idolized enormously and hoped to in the future be like.”
Lopez de San Roman has spent the vast majority of her 2023-2024 CX season in Europe, solely racing 4 junior occasions since October within the US, which included a second silver medal on the Pan-American Championships and the gold on the US Nationals. Throughout three separate racing blocks with Workforce USA’s EuroCross Academy in Europe, she was simply off the rostrum in two World Cup races within the fall, fourth at Troyes and fifth in Dublin, and most lately completed sixth at Benidorm and contested for a podium spot final weekend at Hoogerheide.
It was on the Hoogerheide course for her sixth World Cup begin that the US rider known as it “one in all my finest races this season”, though a mechanical despatched her from full throttle to whole standstill close to the tip.
“Raced one in all my finest races this season within the combat for the final step on the rostrum till the final lap yesterday. Disillusioned to have dangerous luck on such a promising day, however proud of my type going into the large one subsequent weekend,” she posted to social media.
With a two-week stint of relaxation and one remaining World Cup accomplished, the US teenager has accomplished “full preparation mode” for the World Championships within the Czech Republic.
“Ever since I first began racing cyclocross I’ve at all times had a love for racing in muddy and wet circumstances. My strengths are inclined to additionally swimsuit extra technical programs however I additionally actually get pleasure from quick, punchy programs just like the upcoming Tabor course,” Lopez de San Roman advised Cyclingnews.
A chilly rain on Thursday ought to have minimal impacts to begin the championships for junior girls, which lead off three classes on Saturday morning.
