Juniors Racing

WORS and WIN Cycling: growing opportunities for youth!

Over 22 years of racing, WORS has fostered young riders and worked to create more and better opportunities for Juniors to race. WORS already has some of the highest Juniors participation numbers in the nation. In 2012, when WORS announced the “Year of the Junior” the Series hosted nearly 2,700 junior entrants (cyclingnews). WORS Series Director Don Edberg, who coaches a local WORS Junior Development team, is ready to bring even greater focus to the support of Midwest Junior competitors with the establishment of WIN Cycling. We look forward to welcoming new racers of all ages in 2013.

WORS offers Juniors of all abilities a racing experience appropriate to their levels of skill and fitness. WORS welcomes Junior girls and boys of every ability level. Beginning racers of all ages are encouraged to attend our free Learn to Race Clinic – note that those 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent. Advanced junior riders can find a level of competition at WORS that has helped to develop young athletes into some of the strongest collegiate and professional MTB competitors in the nation. Above all, the family-oriented atmosphere at WORS venues ensures that cyclists and spectators alike will enjoy a weekend of fun together.

• For our youngest competitors, WORS offers the Kid’s Race, here.
• Junior racer up to 14 years of age may choose to participate in the Juniors-only races.
• Juniors may also choose to participate in age-class racing on the same course as the adults, at the Citizen, Sport or Comp (males only) level.
• Juniors over the age of 15 may race with the Elite and Pro competitors

WORS Juniors Races

The Citizen Series Juniors races are for boys and girls of racing age 14 and under. Races for this category start at least 30 minutes before the Citizen race and are 3-6 miles in length (1 or 2 laps of a modified Citizen course).

WORS Junior Race Sweep

Parents are not permitted to ride with their Junior racers. However, the WORS Juniors race boasts two dedicated volunteers, who follow the racers and can offer assistance, if needed. A video of the Juniors Sweep is below, as well as parent comments collected during the 2011 season.

“Thank You!!!!!!

Our daughter raced this last Sunday in the Junior Female 8 and under category. She had a rough go of it, but finished the race. One of the sweep riders stayed with her the entire race. I don’t know the gentleman’s name that rode with her, but we are very appreciative of his effort. She had been talking about the race for months so it meant a lot to her to finish. She finished the race knowing she was in last place in the overall group. She didn’t realize there were only 2 riders in her age group. The 2nd place medal at the end was a surprise to her. She slept with the medal on last night.

Again, big thanks to the sweep rider that stayed with her.

Thanks,
Dave K”

A thank you note posted at the WORS message board on May 23, 2011:

Hey All! I just wanted to give a big shout out to all those that worked at the Crystal Lake Classic this past weekend. From the WORS Staff to the Camp Tesomas Staff to the Volunteers, top notch! I especially want to thank those Sport riders that swept during the Junior race. My daughter unfortunately flatted halfway through her lap. Being the determined one she is, she decided to push her bike the remaining 2.5 miles to the finish line. The Sweepers, taking time out of their own race prep, stayed with her the whole time. I didn’t catch their names but they definitely earned a little WORS good luck karma!! Please pass this along to them, thanks!! – JayC

Age-class racing

Junior racers may choose race at the same time as the adults in either beginner or more advanced categories. Some of our most successful racers in the Citizen and Sport categories are young athletes. In the racer video below, 13-year old Emily S finished second out of 48 women ranging in age from 12 to 55. During their race, she and her closest competitor would catch and pass much of the men’s field. The added challenge of racing with a larger number of competitors is great practice for young athletes, because it helps them to develop tactical skills as well as fitness. The video shows 13-year old Emily and 14-year old Rachael (who won the Ramble) demonstrating excellent passing technique. You’ll also see how quickly gaps close between the two women in the front as they catch slower riders without the opportunity to pass, and how hard they sprint in open passing sections. That’s great racing. Because WORS races as a Series and fosters strong community relationships, the environment for learning and development is an especially positive one for young athletes.

2012 USA Cycling/WORS Competitive and Non-Competitive Event Release Form

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Download the 2012 USA Cycling/WORS Competitive and Non-Competitive Event Release Form.