USA Cycling says Katherine Sarkisov and Ashlin Barry won the under-23 road race national titles on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the 2026 Pro Road National Championships in Charleston, West Virginia. The result matters for riders because both races were decided after hard climbing circuits, tactical chase work, and late moves rather than simple field sprints.
The under-23 women raced 92.6 kilometers over five laps. USA Cycling said the early break included Jorja Bond, Ella Brenneman, and Chloe Fraser, with the move building more than two minutes by the end of lap two before the field began closing it down on the expanded circuit.
Sarkisov, from North Potomac, Maryland, made the decisive move on the final lap. USA Cycling said she attacked on the Bridge Road climb, bridged across with help from Brenneman, caught the leaders on the Wertz climb, and crossed the line solo for the Stars and Stripes jersey. Bond finished second, 37 seconds back, and Fraser took third.
Barry wins after a late chase
The under-23 men’s road race covered 135 kilometers with 95 riders starting. USA Cycling said Beckam Drake attacked on lap one and held the solo lead until the final lap, while the course gradually reduced the field over repeated climbs.
The winning move formed late. USA Cycling listed Ashlin Barry, Garret Beshore, Noah Shelton, Marcis Shelton, Owen Cole, and Alfredo Bueno Jr. in the chase group that went after Drake. Once Drake was caught, the race came down to a two-rider sprint between Barry and Marcis Shelton on Kanawha Boulevard.
Barry, from Boulder, Colorado and racing for Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development, won the sprint for the national title. Marcis Shelton took second, and Brendan Luongo won the four-rider sprint for third.
Why this matters for riders
For juniors, collegiate racers, and local club riders watching the national pathway, the under-23 races show how much American road racing still rewards repeatable climbing, team timing, and patience after early breakaways.
Sarkisov’s win came from a late bridge rather than sitting in the field all day. Barry’s win came after a long solo leader was finally absorbed and the decisive group had to sprint after a selective course. That is useful race context for anyone following the same national championship week as the junior road race titles and elite criterium titles, because it shows why national championship races often split before the finish straight.
USA Cycling said the final day of the championships was scheduled for Sunday, June 21, 2026, with the elite women’s road race at 8:00 a.m. ET and the elite men’s road race at 1:00 p.m. ET.