Monarch Racing Spring Update
Valley of the Sun
Kicking off 2026 with fireworks, both the Monarch Racing junior team and the elite team attending the Valley of the Sun stage race in Phoenix, AZ. We’ll give you the results now, but there’s so much more to share! Additionally, we are excited to share that Monarch Racing is home to the largest junior girls’ road team in the country!
Results
1st & 3rd GC in 17-18 Jr. Girls
1st place Stage 2 & 3, 2nd place Stage 1, 3rd place Stage 1 in 17-18 Jr. Girls
4th & 5th GC for Pro Women
Race Report
Valley of the Sun is the first major stage race on the professional road calendar, and the largest and most prestigious USA Cycling junior stage race (part of the Junior Cup, and is used as a selection race for Talent camps, World Champs, Euro trips, etc.). This was the first stage race, let alone national-level road event, for 10 of the 11 juniors who attended.
Every single junior rider finished the stage race - zero crashes and zero DNF's! Five different riders all had Top-10 results from the race, and there was no doubt the team belonged there. Pack fodder, they were not! But it is important to emphasize that our goal at Valley of the Sun wasn't about results - the focus was on growth and development 100% of the time, and riders did that. The team talked through strategy, through the physical and mental aspects of the sport, and at any given point in time riders were kind, supportive, and dedicated to doing their best.
On the Pro Women’s side, both Annie Gilbert and Claudia Ferreira are coming into the season in good form, ripping the Time Trial to a 4th and 5th place finish, and with good teamwork throughout the race, they maintained those positions in GC.
We do have some unfortunate news that our Pro rider Elisa Luo was involved in a serious crash in the final sprint on Stage 2 that sent her to the hospital. Remarkably, thanks to her helmet (we are grateful for Specialized for their commitment to making the safest equipment in the world) she has no brain injury, but did undergo emergency surgery and faces some serious recovery time. She is incredibly strong, stubborn, and will heal, and the team is supporting her and we can’t wait to have her back on her feet.
Tucson Bicycle Classic
Straight from Valley of the Sun, the pro team headed over to Tucson, AZ, to take part in the four-day Tucson Bicycle Classic. Unfortunately down one rider with Elisa still recovering, the team lost Grace Gieske early on to illness as well. Even so, Annie Gilbert finished 7th on Stage 1 and never dropped out of 10th in the GC - finishing 8th in GC after the close on the final day.
The team raced strategically and made good decisions, but tough conditions and competition didn’t see any lucky breaks come through. Dodging vehicle traffic on open roads, as well as overlapping fields with other races added to the frustration, but the team kept their heads and both Dana Scott and Helena Merk were lurking around the Top 10 every day.
Unfortunately, Dana Scott went down on the final day and went to the hospital, where she was confirmed to have a broken collarbone and scapula. More tests and evaluations are being done to assess surgery and recovery options, so please also send her speedy healing thoughts!
Bridged Opportunity Scholarship - Megan Jastrub
As an added bonus to winning the 17-18 race at Valley of the Sun, our junior Sofia Tripcevich was awarded the inaugural Bridged Opportunity Scholarship from Megan Jastrub (a world-tour racer looking to give back to junior development). This scholarship provides a financial grant for racing, as well as 1:1 mentoring sessions throughout the year. We are so proud of Sofia for her racing and for demonstrating excellence on and off the bike, and grateful for Megan for her commitment to giving back.
Coming Up
The Pro team will reconvene next at the Redlands Bicycle Classic in April, followed by Tour de Bloom in May. Our juniors will be racing in Northern California at a number of events, including Cat’s Hill Classic and the Berkeley Omnium (made up of the Berkeley Hills Road Race and Berkeley Streets Criterium).
From all our riders and team staff, we cannot thank you enough for your support and encouragement of our team! Whether you follow along casually at home, provide sponsorship and donations, or sideline encouragement, our team is a community endeavor and we are so proud to have the support that we do. Thank you.
Financial Summary 2026 Season
Equipment: $27,564
Marketing / Admin / Other: $4,664
Travel Races: $19,993
Other Events: $492
Training Plan: $3,000
TOTAL: $55,778
Make a tax-deductible donation to our GoFundMe!
