CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — The USA Cycling Pro Road National Championships are sparking big dreams among young mountain bikers in West Virginia.
For riders like Finn McIlvaine, cycling is more than just a sport — it’s a connection to nature and personal freedom.
“It’s just you and the bike and God’s creation out in the woods,” McIlvaine said. “You get to see nature, travel, and forget about things. You can just ride.”
McIlvaine has been riding since he was young and joined the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) in sixth grade. He is now a member of the Kanawha River Wildcats, a mountain biking team that represents Kanawha, Putnam, and Cabell counties.
The team is coached by Jack Hoblitzell, who sees mountain biking as a tool for growth.
“We’re a youth development organization focused on mountain biking,” Hoblitzell said. “We build skills, fitness, outdoor knowledge, community, and resilience through the sport.”
Across West Virginia, NICA supports around 400 to 500 young riders. In Kanawha County alone, the team welcomes about 40 to 50 riders each year. The season runs through the fall, with five races hosted in state parks across the state.
Teammates Morgan White and Sofie Gaull have also been mountain biking for several years and say the sport offers a unique challenge.
“Mountain biking is more rough and technical,” Gaull said. “Road biking is smoother but still challenging, especially with all the uphills.”
Last year, all three riders attended the Pro Road National Championships in Charleston. The event left a lasting impression.
“It’s really cool,” White said. “You can get pictures with Tour de France athletes and Olympians.”
For McIlvaine, the experience planted a seed for the future.
“West Virginia is so small, so having these famous people come here and race is really crazy,” he said. “It made me think about racing at the national level someday.”
Hoblitzell emphasized that NICA is open to everyone, regardless of skill level.
“You don’t have to race. We don’t have cuts or tryouts,” he said. “If you want to ride and have even basic bike skills, we’d love to have you.”
Sign-ups for the 2025 season are now open. Hoblitzell said the team is invite-only, and anyone interested should reach out through the team’s Facebook page.
“We accept riders from rising sixth through 12th grade,” he said. “The season officially begins on July 1.”