Teenagers Abbygail Cole and Luke Johnson experienced their very first European cyclocross races earlier this week, as part of the 12-rider group for 15- and 16-year-olds wiht 2025 EuroCrossAcademy (ECA), a US-based student-athlete progress programme. With the new territory came surprises in pre-race routines,language barrier,start grid placements and race positioning.
Both riders acclimatised quickly after starts deep in the fields, new territory for the accomplished juniors, with Cole scoring back-to-back victories on the weekend while Johnson earned second place on Saturday. However, racing the first day in deep mud at VAM Berg and the next on a slippery, technical course like Spijkenisse, near Rotterdam, were not straightforward rides to the podium.
Abby Cole, a 15-year-old from East Granby, Connecticut, who rides for Competitive Edge Racing with her twin sister Lilly, said she was surprised on Saturday by a fast, shoulder-bumping start, “which made me kind of panic”. Johnson, a 16-year-old from Waukesha, Wisconsin, who rides for Finkraft Junior Cycling, said he had to adapt to aggressive racing where “everybody races for any position with all thay can”.
Throughout the various renditions of ECA since Geoff Proctor founded the development programme in 2003, young athletes have used the travel blocks, along with US-based camps, to gain cyclocross skills, experience different cultures and develop personally as a “whole person”, as Proctor puts it, adding: “You want to refrain from judgment and evaluation and results, to enjoy the process, experience the joy and the surprise of watching an athlete grow and achieve.”
Notable past participants who have worn the ECA kits in Europe include AJ August (Ineos Grenadiers), Ashlin Barry (Visma-Lease a Bike Development), Kaya Musgrave (Competitive Edge Racing), and four-time US cyclocross national champion Clara Honsinger.
The ECA 15-16 block continues for another week, with training rides, educational sessions and two final Dutch races – November 22 at Hilversum and November 23 at Venlo.Eleven of the riders represent 10 different states as well as nine different ‘cross teams, with Lukas Young based out of Germany. A block of four Belgium races will also be held for 12 riders in the 17-18 age group in December.
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American Cyclocross Racer Finds Success – and a Quick Start – in Europe
Luke Johnson, a 16-year-old from Waukesha, Wisconsin, recently competed in his first European cyclocross race for ECA and delivered a strong performance, finishing third in his category. However, the experience wasn’t without its surprises.
Johnson noted the considerably shorter start procedure compared to U.S. racing. “The start procedures were very different as soon as all of the girls took off their warm-up pants and jackets the start official said five seconds. This was extremely different from U.S racing because they normally give you 15 seconds, and then any time within that 15 seconds.”
The race itself presented challenges, including a crowded start and unique course conditions. “The girls started very fast and I was pushed out of the way by another rider, which made me kind of panic. I was able to move past girls on the cobblestone sectional, which we have never seen before,” Johnson explained. He also described the mud as “thin and slick,” with some sections proving faster to run.
Despite the challenges, Johnson took the lead after the first lap and maintained it through to the finish. He appreciated a moment of connection with his competition after the race, noting, “The podiums were right after where everyone was freezing, but the girl who got second spoke English. I don’t know how to speak Dutch, so it was cool for them to speak our language.”
American Cyclocross Academy Athletes Compete in the Netherlands
The EuroCrossAcademy (ECA) is providing a unique opportunity for young American cyclocross racers to gain valuable experience competing in Europe.Recently, ECA athletes participated in races in the Netherlands, encountering both challenges and warm welcomes.
The teamS second race took place in Spijkenisse, at a dedicated cyclocross course. According to Abby Cole, the local club and organizers were surprised to see American riders registered for their regional Dutch series race. “After our pre-ride to the local club called PRC Delta, they asked to take a photo with all their young riders and seemed to view us as celebrities,” Cole recounted.
Cole strategically focused on a strong start, recognizing the importance of moving up quickly due to challenging sections of the course, including an off-camber stretch and a wooded area promptly following the start. She ultimately went on to win her second race for ECA.
While the six-rider men’s event didn’t see an ECA athlete on the podium, 16-year-old Lukas Young secured a respectable fifth-place finish. Coach Johnson highlighted the significant difference in terrain compared to the previous day’s course.
American Cyclocross racers Adapt to European Competition
American cyclocross racers Abby Cole and Johnson (full name not provided in the source) recently competed in their first weekend of racing in the Netherlands, gaining valuable experience and adapting to the unique challenges of european competition. The pair raced in Spijkenisse, encountering a course and racing style markedly different from what they are accustomed to in the United States.
The Spijkenisse course presented a technical challenge, described as “much more tight in width and had many smaller features such as off cambers, short stairs, carousels and short hills” by cole. The start proved particularly challenging, creating a bottleneck that required teamwork to navigate. Cole initially attempted to hop the barriers but switched to running them after a mistake, finding it to be equally or slightly faster given the less-than-ideal ground conditions.
Beyond the course itself, the racers noted a significant difference in the intensity of competition. Johnson observed that European racers demonstrate a higher level of aggression, “everybody races for any position with all they can,” compared to the United States where competition for positions further down the field is less fierce. This difference required a shift in outlook and an expectation of competition from every rider.
The trip also fostered independence for Cole,who had previously relied on her parents for pre- and post-race routines. Being in Europe necessitated self-reliance in preparing meals and ensuring she had all necessary equipment. she stated this experience will be invaluable as she prepares to compete in the 17-18 UCI field.
Looking ahead, the team plans to train in the Lichtaart forest, hoping to observe top Belgian professional cyclists, before racing in Hilversum and Venlo this upcoming weekend. The experience gained in the Netherlands is expected to be instrumental in their continued development and success in European cyclocross racing.