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Roanoke Star Cycling Athlete Lucinda Cherbaka to Represent Team USA at Mountain Bike World Cup in Lake Placid
Roanoke Star Cycling Athlete Lucinda Cherbaka to Represent Team USA at Mountain Bike World Cup in Lake Placid
ROANOKE, Va. October 1, 2026 Roanoke Star Cycling is proud to announce that Lucinda Cherbaka, a youth athlete from Blacksburg, will represent Team USA at the 2026 UCI Mountain Bike World Series in Lake Placid, New York, October 2–4, 2026.
The competition will take place at the Lake Placid Olympic Sites, where athletes from around the world will compete in mountain bike disciplines including cross-country and downhill. The weekend will bring some of the sport’s best riders together at the historic Mt. Van Hoevenberg and Whiteface venues.
For 17 year-old Lucinda, the opportunity represents a major milestone in a cycling journey that began with racing cross-country mountain bikes with the New River Valley Cycling Alliance and developed into a passion for downhill. She joined the Roanoke Star Cycling Gravity Team in 2025 and has since developed as a competitive athlete through the support of her family, coaches, teammates and the broader RSC Gravity community.
“Representing Team USA is an incredible honor,” said Lucinda. “I’m excited to race at Lake Placid, learn from the experience and carry the support of my family, coaches, teammates and RSC Gravity with me.”
Since joining RSC Gravity, Lucinda has achieved a number of impressive finishes in the Pro-Women category through the Downhill Southeast Series against older and more experienced competitors:
Solitude Mtn Pro Downhill Series, UT 2nd place
Tennessee Nationals 3rd place
Massanutten, VA 1st place
Snowshoe, WV 4th place
Beech Mtn, NC 5th place
Trials Training Center, TN 4th place
4th overall in the Pro- Women’s category in the Downhill Southeast Series
Her progression has been shaped not only by race results, but also by the discipline, resilience and teamwork developed through youth mountain biking.
“We are thrilled to see Lucinda step behind the tape and experience the intensity of a World Cup as a racer.” said Dan Lucas, Head Coach with RSC Gravity. “We are incredibly fortunate to have her on our team, and we can’t wait to watch her take on this huge milestone. This is a dream opportunity to race alongside the very best in the world, and we hope she soaks up every single second of it!”
Roanoke Star Cycling is a youth mountain biking nonprofit dedicated to helping young riders develop skills, confidence, fitness and a lifelong connection to cycling. The organization provides athletes with coaching, community and opportunities to participate in mountain biking at a variety of levels.
“Lucinda’s selection is a proud moment for her family, coaches and for the entire Roanoke Star Cycling community,” said Susan Herndon-Powell, Executive Director of Roanoke Star Cycling. “Her achievement demonstrates what young athletes can accomplish when they are given the opportunity to pursue their dreams, supported by their families and coaches, and committed to working super hard.”
The Lake Placid competition will be an opportunity for Lucinda to test herself against top riders, gain international racing experience and represent both Team USA and her hometown community.
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