Respectfully, holy sh*t.
I have no words to describe how incredible this past week was in Indaiatuba, Brazil, but Iāll try.
It was an absolute honor and privilege to pilot and work with @hannahsonthego on the tandem at Pan American Champs and to race alongside Mike Stevens and @joe_christiansen . For our first outing, we focused on perfecting the method and learning all we could. It paid off, and with the help of the incredible team supporting us at the race, the coaches who help us at home, and our friends cheering from afar, we came home with two pan am titles in the match sprints and 4k, and two silver medals in the team sprint and kilo.
We also came home with new friendships with other nations, some great memories, a love for owls, and a new UNO champion (me).
Back to work tomorrow, we have some goals to chase!
Hayley @baates is returning to TMB for 2026, after joing the elite program last year. Last year she hit the early season local races, winning the Land Park Criterium and coming in second at the Bariani Road Race, before focusing on elite track racing for the summer. She has a background in professional cross country mountain bike racing, professional road racing, and elite track cycling. However, in 2026 Hayley will be trying out yet another discipline as she competes as a tandem pilot with USA Cycling. She and her partner will be competing in track sprint events, but youāll still find her at the local criteriums and Thursday night races at Hellyer Velodrome. First race will be Para Pan Ams in Brazil, starting Feb 25th.
Results:
Team Pursuit National Champion, 2019, 2024
1st Landpark Criterium 2025
2nd Bariani Road Race 2025
2nd Elite Track Team Pursuit Nationals 2023
3rd Elite Track Scratch Race Nationals 2023
4th Elite Track Individual Pursuit Nationals 2023
5th US Pro Cup Overall 2024
Itās not all puppy dogs and rainbows (thanks @championfactory ) but Iāve had plenty of reasons to break into spontaneous happy dances lately.
Iāve been chasing sunrises, sunsets, and new opportunities lately. Nothing is ever guaranteed, so Iām just grateful to see what might be. Iām already looking forward to 2026!
Just a girl and her (best friendās) dog
A weekend of:
Celebrating (and carrying) @adri_trudy and @nathangrasso
Time with grandma
Grandma and mom tearing up the dance floor
Remembering our grandpa
And nonsense with my favorites @aschroedz and @avahachmann
See ya soon Colorado
Everyone (in my corner of the internet) is posting race photos but I knew going into nationals this year that the stars werenāt aligned to have the rides I wanted and I decided that was going to have to be okay.
Instead, Iām remembering that in the name of altitude acclimation I got to spend the last three weeks bouncing around my favorite state with my favorite people (@avahachmann@aschroedz@izzie_harden ) and just embracing simple joys. My friends can make me laugh on the worst of days and love me no matter how fast I go.
Maybe a race report is to come, maybe not. Either way, Iām so excited to take some time off the bike and take a big, deep breath because the off season is here āØ
