CMU Road Weekend
March 28–29, 2026
Grand Junction, Colo.

Criterium Results: https://results.racedayeventsoftware.com/
Road Race Results: https://results.racedayeventsoftware.com/

Racing for the 2026 season kicked off at CMU in Grand Junction with a downtown criterium, followed by a road race in Whitewater, southwest of town. The criterium course is notoriously challenging and made for a tough start to the season.

The women opened the weekend with strong performances in the downtown crit. Caroline Haag set the tone early, winning the Cat 4/5 race before returning a few hours later to place fourth in the Cat 3/4 field. In the Pro 1/2 race, Oona Nelson was the top finisher for the Skyhawks, taking eighth in the chase sprint after spending much of the race active at the front of the field.

In the men's Pro 1/2 race, Fort Lewis College riders controlled the front for much of the contest, though the final laps proved decisive. The team placed two riders inside the top 15, led by Ezra Brown and Sam Hart. Earlier in the day, Elliott Thornblade delivered a standout performance in the Cat 3/4 race, breaking away midway through and soloing to victory. Freshman Birdie Smith followed suit in the Cat 4/5 race, finishing second after an aggressive ride.

The RMCCC road scene was in full force, highlighted by the presence of local Durango Devo juniors competing alongside the Skyhawks.

Sunday's road race in Whitewater featured the warmest conditions the venue has seen, leading to aggressive racing across all categories. The Skyhawks aimed to match CMU's intensity, racing aggressively in the Pro 1/2/3 fields for both men and women.

Cooper Mangum spent the day in the breakaway, navigating a mid-race reshuffle and ultimately holding on for a strong second-place finish. On the women's side, the team rode cohesively to support Caroline Haag, who finished eighth.

Elliott Thornblade continued his dominant weekend in the men's Cat 3/4 race, launching a long-range attack to secure his second solo victory. Toby Hasset followed with a strong second-place finish in the field sprint, while Aiden Brown added a fourth-place result.

In the men's Cat 4/5 race, the Skyhawks executed a strong team performance, placing three riders in the top four: James Newsman (2nd), Oliver Smith (3rd), and Kip Sevenoff (4th).

Comments from Coach
"We are thrilled to get the season kicked off and see how everyone's form is coming together and start to build some team cohesion," Ian Burnett