Tour de Bloom says ‘no thank you’ to UCI designation for elite women but expands to six days, Canadian cyclo-cross team named for Worlds, and more – North American Roundup

The organisers of the Tour de Bloom have had to curtail their 2026 plans to return as a 2.2-level stage race for elite women because of high costs. However, the race will continue for women and men from May 14-19 in the USA’s Pacific Northwest but no UCI points.

The Tour de Bloom will expand to six stages over six days for the elite categories. An omnium format comprising four stages on four days will be held for amateurs.

Marlies Mejias turns to crowdfunding to earn spot on Cuban team at LA Olympic Games

Cuban-born Marlies Mejías Garcia is already a two-time Olympian for her country, and wants to make a third appearance in 2028 in Los Angeles, when the Games will be held in the US, where she now lives and races with the Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 team.

She planned to earn points towards Olympic qualification at this year’s UCI Track Cycling World Championships, but learned that the Cuban Cycling Federation would not support her participation in any track events this year due to a lack of funding.

You may like

Since Mejías Garcia is a salaried athlete on the US-based Continental women’s team, the travel costs, event fees, track-specific equipment, and select training camps fall outside the team’s budget, too.

An accomplished road and track rider with 21 victories last year, Mejías Garcia is looking to raise $25,000 with a GoFundMe campaign to use for a three-year calendar of track competitions, including World Cups, Pan-American Championships, and World Championships, to earn a spot on the Cuban Olympic Team.

“Asking for help isn’t easy for me, but this journey is bigger than fear or pride. Competing in the Pan American and World Cups is a crucial step toward my lifelong dream: earning a place at the Olympic Games,” Mejías wrote on her fundraiser home page. “Your support—whether through a donation, sharing this page, or simply believing in me—means more than I can put into words.”

Just days into launching the campaign, Mejías has raised more than $6,000.

Jim Brown and Noah Granigan join L39ION of Los Angeles men’s squad

In November of last year, L39ION co-founder Justin Williams confirmed that the men’s squad would return to the Continental level after racing as a club team in the US the past two seasons. He also disclosed that the roster would include four-time USPro medalist Tyler Williams and four riders from Belize – himself, brother Cory Williams, Jyven Gonzalez, and 19-year-old talent Jaylen Briceno.

Returning to the squad are Canadians Daniel Kalichman and Alex Cowan, in his sixth season on the team, and the USA’s Jason Paez.

Among the three newest signings, British sprinter Brown will play a big role in the team’s focus of one-day races. He rode for the Golden State Blazers last year, winning a stage at the Redlands Bicycle Classic and earning podiums in the Athens Twilight Criterium, Capitol Cup, Clarendon Cup, and Harlem Skyscraper Classic.

Lockwood and Granigan rode for the Blazers, a team owned by Williams Development Racing that closed last year. Lockwood won a stage at Valley of the Sun and was eighth in the time trial at USPro Road Nationals. In 2022, Granigan won the points classification at the Joe Martin Stage Race and the mountains classification at the UCI 2.Pro Tour of Turkey while with the Wildlife Generation squad.

Jaylen Briceno (BIZ)Jim Brown (GBR)Alex Cowan (CAN)Jyven Gonzalez (BIZ)Noah Granigan (USA)Daniel Kalichman (CAN)Cory Lockwood (USA)Jason Paez (USA)Cory Williams (BIZ)Justin Williams (BIZ)Tyler Williams (USA)Cyclo-cross Worlds U23 bronze medalist Rafaelle Carrier leads 14-rider Canadian team at Hulst

Cycling Canada team for UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships