March 29, 2024

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Breckenridge’s Nico Konecny captures third national title at USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships in Winter Park

Nico Konecny prepares to race at the 2022 Usa Biking Mountain Bicycle National Championships in Winter Park. Konecny, 16, raced in the 15-16-yr-aged age division and received equally the small track cross-state and cross-state races. Konecny will go up to the the 17-18-yr-previous age division following period with three national titles to his title.
Alec Levy-O’Brien/Bear National Team

Shortly just after the celebration that arrives with successful a nationwide championship, the considered of capturing back-to-again titles usually pushes its way into the minds of opponents and spectators alike. 

After profitable the 15- to 16-yr-old cross-region national title in 2021, Breckenridge’s Nico Konecny entered the 2022 Usa Biking Mountain Bicycle National Championships in Wintertime Park wanting to turn out to be a two-time national winner himself. 

“It was the expectation and belief in a target to win, but the opposition in the 15- to 16-calendar year-aged class is incredibly robust. I understood it would be a good race,” Konecny mentioned. “I experienced to be well prepared to give it my all.”



Instead of Konecny just defending his title, the 16-calendar year-previous stamina junkie gained both of those the 15- to 16-yr-outdated division’s cross-region title and the shorter keep track of cross-nation title. Now a three-time nationwide champion, the titles display Konecny’s dominance in the sport. 

Konecny, who competes as section of the Bear Countrywide Group, dominated in equally races. In the cross-place race on Friday, July 22, Konecny conquer out 2nd location by a span of pretty much two minutes. 



Konecny completed the program in 1 hour, 9 minutes and 58 seconds, building him the only competitor in the division to crack 70 minutes. 

“Before the race, I was unquestionably nervous simply because you have those people anticipations and that intention to protect it all over again,” Konecny reported. “In the race, I tried out to keep myself as relaxed and composed as I can to tactically play it good and acquire it to the complete.”

On Sunday, July 24, Konecny geared himself up once more, this time for his next nationwide title of the weekend. 

Konecny run his way by the shorter length study course, location himself aside from Luke Mosteller of Gravity Academy Racing. Konecny concluded in a time of 28:01, 10 seconds in front of Mosteller, who positioned 2nd. 

“I do not know if it has established in but, but I am very excited,” Konecny reported of his double-national-championship effectiveness. “I am not only delighted with the two wins but the journey of the whole time to get there.”

Nico Konecny, going through digital camera, hugs one particular of his Bear Countrywide Group teammates just after competing at the 2022 United states Biking Mountain Bike National Championships in Winter Park. Konecny, 16, raced in the 15- to 16-12 months-old division and gained both equally the shorter keep track of cross state and cross region races. Konecny attributes a great deal of his results to his big guidance crew which is made up of his coach, parents and more mature brother, Lasse.
Alec Levy-O’Brien/Bear Countrywide Group

Like any countrywide title, a whole lot of difficult operate — usually unseen — went into Konecny’s pair of countrywide championship performances. Konecny was speedy to take note the significant aid technique all-around him, which involves his mother and father, brother, Lasse and mentor, for his achievement throughout the period. 

“I have just an remarkable aid crew,” Konecny said. “Being equipped to obtain your intention for the time, recognizing how a lot hard perform everybody has set in is so gratifying.” 

It is because of Konecny’s mothers and fathers that Konecny found his way into the sport. Impressed from an early age by his father, Thomas, Konency has been riding bikes for as lengthy as he can recall. 

“He was doing a entire bunch of area races, and we would travel to observe him,” Konecny reported of his father. “It sparked an curiosity and enjoy, in me, for the activity.”

Konecny states he grew additional severe about the activity in 2016 when he attended his initial national championship in Mammoth, California.

For the past six several years, Konecny has tirelessly been placing in work — biking at least 6 times a week with just one or two challenging efforts developed into the week. A single of the favourite instruction routes of the Konecny brothers is Peak 9 Road in Breckenridge, which organized both for the nationwide championship program in Wintertime Park. 

The Konecny brothers are best training partners for 1 a different. The duo coach jointly the vast majority of the season and operate challenging to press each and every other’s restrictions. 

“My brother has a seriously big effect on me and cycling,” Konecny claimed. “I appear up to him in so lots of techniques and stick to what he does. He’s essentially my idol. We are tremendous near. The brotherly competition amongst each individual other certainly retains us pushing each other, and it is why we are the place we are in the sport.”

Nico Konecny, heart, stands atop the awards podium just after successful one of two cross region races at the 2022 United states of america Cycling Mountain Bike Nationwide Championships in Winter season Park. Konecny, 16, raced in the 15- to 16-year-aged age division and received each the limited monitor cross nation and regular cross state races.
Alec Levy-O’Brien/Bear National Staff

With 3 national titles less than his belt, Konecny will graduate to the 17- to 18-12 months-old age division following year. Konecny claims he is finished severely racing for the relaxation of the time but could race the Breck Epic mountain bicycle race from Aug. 14-19.

Even nevertheless Konecny’s period may possibly be around, he currently has various objectives outlined for up coming year when he competes in a new age division. His objectives include obtaining the chance to contend in planet cup races and competing at entire world championships. 

In the lengthy expression Konecny hopes to rise to the upper echelons of the sport and continue on to be an ambassador for the sport of mountain biking.

“I see all the awesome places biking can take me,” Konecny reported. “We go to all these gorgeous and amazing locations, and I want young ones to have the exact opportunity I have. I want persons to delight in the globe we dwell in and do it even though on a bicycle.”