2024 Team Roster
The 2024 roster:
Kate Selier (Louisville, KY)
Lizzy Gunsalus (Dudley, MA)
Betty Hasse (Providence, RI)
Kendall Chase (Boston, MA)
Katherine Rusch (Kingston, RI)
Ella Grier (Rockville, VA)
Ella Brenneman
Cécile Lejeune
Sabrina Hayes
Staff
Lauren LeClaire, Sports Director (Sutton, MA)
Tim Mitchell, Technical Director (Ashland, MA)
Zach Meszoely, Mechanic (Allston, MA)
Marcuss Orr, Mechanic (Kingston, RI)
Meet them all below!!
Kate Seiler
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Currently resides in: Grand Junction, CO
Pets: Willett, my sweet golden lab.
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: I currently go to Colorado Mesa University and race for the cycling team there. I love to hike and camp and do all the outdoorsy stuff in my spare time as well.
One weird/interesting fact about yourself: The only bones I’ve ever broken have been in my right arm… 3 of them.
Why do you race bikes: All my life I had constantly been doing a sport (my parents are the type to do a trail run on thanksgiving if you can’t tell <3) but I never stuck with any of them like I did when I started cycling. I really enjoyed the freedom and time away from normal life that it gave me. The amount of amazing people I’ve met through racing and traveling for races is uncountable and I’m very thankful for it.
How did you get into cycling?: My dad started racing when he was in college and continued when I was young. It’s kind of hard not to start racing when you’re going to races every weekend and all of your friends are a part of the cycling community haha.
Favorite color: Green
What is your secret (or not so secret) strength: Somehow keeping plants alive
What animal do you most identify with?: I’d say a black bear
What are your 2024 goals?: My 2024 goal is to carry on my momentum of progress from last year. I had a big step up in my racing ability and confidence and I would love to keep it going.
What’s your favorite race pump up jam?: Life Goes On- Alok remix
Bucket list race you haven't done yet?: ToAD!!
What's the name of your pre-race playlist?: Get Psyched
Lizzy Gunsalus
Hometown: Dudley, MA
Currently resides in: going to school in Indianapolis
Pets: Max the boston terrier and Shelby the cat
On the bike accomplishments: 2023 U23 Pan American Cyclocross Champion, 2023 U23 Cyclocross National Champion, 2x cyclocross junior national champion
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: I am a student at Marian University studying chemistry and mechanical engineering. I love to play my guitar and hang out with my friends
One weird/interesting fact about yourself: I can solve a rubix cube in under 30 seconds
Why do you race bikes: To feel free
How did you get into cycling?: My dad raced mountain bikes and cyclocross growing up. At age 5 I started BMXing with my brother. I haven’t looked back since
What are your 2024 goals?: To continue to grow my love for the sport and challenge myself on and off of the bike (and potentially compete in some more mountain biking events this year)
What animal do you most identify with?: spider monkey
What’s your favorite race pump up jam?: Best Love Song T-Pain
Favorite subject to nerd out about?: electron probability
What's the name of your pre race playlist?: rave on the rollers
Betty Hasse
Hometown: Providence, R.I.
Currently resides in: Kingston, R.I.
On the bike accomplishments: 1st U23 ITT US Pro Nationals, 2nd U23 Road Race
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: I study Mechanical Engineering and Applied Math at the University of Rhode Island, so I spend most of my time doing either school or bikes. I’m not cool enough to read textbooks on the trainer, haha. I really like being outside, so anything that facilitates that is probably something I’d enjoy. Walking, running, hiking, napping….you know?! I also enjoy music, and going to local shows when I get the chance.
Why do you race bikes: I wish I had a deeper response, but it’s just so fun. I haven't experienced anything else like it, and I’m definitely hooked.
How did you get into cycling?: 1PVD :) (Shoutout: Donny)
Favorite color: Depends on the day, depends on the hue
What animal do you most identify with?: rubber bouncy-ball (not an animal, but roll with it hehe)
What are your 2024 goals?: : BALLIN UP ON EM’ I’d really like to slay!!
What 2024 event are you most looking forward to and why?: : I’m really stoked for the ITT at Pro Nats again this year, and I’m also really looking forward to any stage race I can get my hands on!
Favorite subject to nerd out about?: Math :)
What's the name of your pre race playlist?: Grrrrr…Whaa!!!
One weird/interesting fact about yourself: I almost always have a spork on me.
Kendall Chase
Hometown: Evergreen, CO
Currently resides in: Boston, MA
Pets: my life is too chaotic for me to be responsible for an animal!
Athletic Palmares: 5x U23 World Champion (rowing), 2x NCAA DI Champion (rowing), 2020 Tokyo Olympics (rowing), 1st - W2/3 field, West Dundee River Challenge (Intelligensia Cup), 1st - WPro/1/2/3 field, New Haven Grand Prix
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: I coach rowing at MIT, which is a really amazing job and I feel very fortunate to be a part of such a great group. One thing I like to do when I am not killing myself on my bike is make abstract art. I also enjoy doing kenkens, sudokus, and EASY crosswords (my brain cell only knows so much)
Why do you race bikes: TYPE 2 FUN BABY!! I love so many things about racing bikes. I love the feeling of going 25+ mph into a turn, being completely surrounded by cyclists. Maybe it’s because I am a thrill seeker or that I exist on the brink of disaster? There is something special about competing in a sport where everyone is throwing themselves into the pain cave. I also really enjoy the fact that cycling is individual, yet there is a team element where everyone plays a different role.
How did you get into cycling?: I got into cycling from all of the cross training that I had to do when I was training with the USRowing team due to my injuries. Post Tokyo 2020, I felt like I had more athletic gas in my tank and I wanted to keep competing, so I switched myself over to another sitting sport where I still get to blow my legs off.
Favorite color: 50 shades of blue
What is your secret (or not so secret) strength: When it comes to sports, I have an ability to keep the mood light even in intense and stressful situations. Humor is the best coping mechanism 🙃
What animal do you most identify with?: In the cycling world, most definitely a rhinoceros.
Favorite subject to nerd out about?: Since I had a brain injury last year, I noticed what I was putting into my body was really effecting how my brain would feel, so I have been nerdy out on nutrition and the gut brain connection ever since
What's the name of your pre race playlist?: 6k (just rowing things lol…)
Katherine Rusch
Hometown: Farmington, CT
Currently resides in: Kingston, RI
Pets: I like to borrow my parents’ golden retriever, Daisy.
On the bike accomplishments: 1st in 2023 Bear Mountain Classic Road Race. 4th and 5th in 2023 GMSR circuit race and crit. 5th in 2023 Armed Forces Crystal City Crit.
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: I’m currently working as an Aerospace Engineer where I mostly run analyses on aerospace parts like airplanes or rockets. Outside of work and biking I love to ski and do pretty much anything outdoors.
One weird/interesting fact about yourself: I dismount on the wrong side for cyclocross.
Why do you race bikes: I’ve always loved any sort of athletic competition. Even if I don’t get a good result, the competition itself is very fun. I also like that bike racing isn’t just about who has the strongest legs because I find the strategy part of it fun to navigate.
How did you get into cycling?: My brother started racing in college and when I got to college and was looking for a new sport coming off of a recurring soccer/running injury from high school, he suggested I try bike racing, so I joined my collegiate team at RPI.
What is your secret (or not so secret) strength: I’m good at baking cakes.
If you weren't racing bikes what other sport would you be competing in?: Alpine ski racing.
Bucket list race you haven't done yet?: Redlands. Or sometime I’d like to try a marathon mtb race.
What's the name of your pre-race playlist?: It’s just called “bike racing”
What’s your favorite on the bike snack?: Cosmic Brownies.
Ella Grier
Hometown: Rockville, VA
Currently resides in: Durango, CO
Pets: Horse named Juliette, two dwarf goats, Roger and Clara, and a plant named Melvin
On the bike accomplishments: 2023 Collegiate TTT National Champion 2023, Top 10 in amateur National road and crit, 2nd in Cat 1 MTB marathon state championship, 1st in U23 MTB marathon state championship, U23 2022 MTB state champion
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: I am pursuing a degree in exercise physiology and minor in biology. Outside of biking I love lifting, riding my horse, walking, hiking, skiing, and intramural sports.
One weird/interesting fact about yourself: Caffeine makes me sleepy
Why do you race bikes: I’m super competitive and hate sitting still. Racing bikes helps keep me focused and constantly working on future goals.
How did you get into cycling?: There are two reasons I kinda started the sport. Both of my parents raced amateur road and my dad went pro in road cycling. I didn’t start until mid-high school a year after my younger brothers. My mom will not hesitate to tell you that I was hard stop against bikes until I watched them race. Nothing is more motivating than the idea of competition between siblings..
What is your secret (or not so secret) strength: My quads… They’ve become a bit of a nickname and personality trait.
What animal do you most identify with?: wombat
What are your 2024 goals?: To be comfortable and confident in the Pro field. Hopefully stack up some results or help my teammates do so.
What 2024 event are you most looking forward to and why?: Honestly I’m not sure, maybe Redlands because I’ve never done a legitimate stage race before.
Ella Brenneman
Hometown: York, PA
Currently resides in: Pittsburgh, PA
Pets: Boxer Border Collie named Maggie, Vizsla named Hank (brothers dog), Border Collie Golden Retriever named Ollie (sisters dog)
On the bike accomplishments: 5th in Junior Road Nationals, 2nd in Junior Road TT Nationals, 1st in Junior Criterium Nationals, 26th at Rande Van Vlaanderen Juniors, 28th at UCI World ITT Championships
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: Applied to Colleges for Fall of 2024, currently in a gap year, Work for my dad at Lane Steel as an assistant
Why do you race bikes: My brother started racing cyclocross about 4-5 years before me. I would go to races but never wanted to do it. I finally said I wanted to race and the first race I did, I got pushed off my bike and yelled at an adult who tried to help me. I picked up my bike and went as hard as I could and I crossed the finish line first. Since then I have fallen in love with the challenge of racing
Favorite color: light pink
What animal do you most identify with?: When I was younger a parent’s friend said I was like a black widow because I was a 70lbs 11-year-old but strong so everyone wouldn’t think I was a threat in a race but I would come out of nowhere and boom pass everyone
What are your 2024 goals?: Do more stage races and get better at them, Increase endurance, hopefully go overseas, get better at TTs, and have fun with this new team:)
What’s your favorite on the bike snack?: Haribo gummy bears because when they come out you know you're on a good ride
Cécile Lejeune
Cécile Lejeune
Hometown: Dole, France
Currently resides in: Tucson, AZ
On the bike accomplishments: multiple junior triathlon, duathlon, track running, cross country French champion. 2nd at collegiate TT nationals 2019. 4th on GC at Vuelta Extremadura 2.2. 1st at Spanish Cup Pontevedra. 11th at French TT nationals 2023
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: English and French Tutor, translator, coach.
One weird/interesting fact about yourself: I’m French but have an English accent
Why do you race bikes: I love being competitive and pushing my body in a race, feeling proud of what adversity pulled out of me. Doing to for and with teammates, in the sport of cycling, is even more satisfying!
How did you get into cycling?: After having gotten injured from running, I turned to collegiate cycling for fun and got hooked.
Favorite color: Green.
What is your secret (or not so secret) strength: eating well on the bike (all the snack!!)
What are your 2024 goals?: Joe Martin, Gila, getting some gravel experience
What 2024 event are you most looking forward to and why?: with the team, races that we can put together a plan and work with each other’s strength
What’s your favorite race pump up jam?: Any Muse or La Femme song
Something very few people don't know about you?: I love crosswords
What's the name of your pre-race playlist?: Wrist it for the biscuit
What’s your favorite on the bike snack?: Cliff bar, cake, Scandinavian Swimmers
Sabrina Hayes
Hometown: Warrenton, VA
Currently resides in: Durango, CO
On the bike accomplishments: 2023 TTT collegiate national champion (with CCB teammies Ella G and alums Nat and Ava), 2nd West Allis ToAD 2/3, 1st Merckx Montana Stage Race GC, 5th Northbrook Grand Prix Intelligentsia Cup 2/3
School/Job/Stuff you do off the bike: I am a junior at Fort Lewis College studying political science/pre law and I lifeguard at the Durango rec center!
One weird/interesting fact about yourself: I can't burp 👎
Why do you race bikes: I think the spring collegiate season completely changed the reason I race bikes because I found my people on the road. Having amazing people in my life who also happen to do the same sport as me deepened my commitment and love for cycling, and it has become part of my identity. I get to train and race and hang out with people who all push each other to be better humans and go faster… turns out having fun on bikes makes you excited to ride bikes.. yippee!!! :)
How did you get into cycling?: My mom and dad raced bikes, and my dad raced professionally in the US. I watched my dad do a lot of races in DC and Maryland when I was a kid and I have so many fond memories from the atmosphere of those races. I started racing mountain bikes and cyclocross in middle school after doing a super muddy kids’ race and went through brief periods where I raced on the road in high school. I chose to go to Fort Lewis after staying in Durango with some of my Bear Dev teammates for a pre MTB nationals camp in 2019 and moved here two years later!
What animal do you most identify with?: squirrel
What are your 2024 goals?: For 2024, I am mostly wanting to understand the ins and outs of what it means to be a teammate – the tactics and teamwork of road racing is one of the reasons why I fell in love with the discipline. I have also always been afraid of TT bikes so I’m excited to get over that fear as well.
What's the name of your pre-race playlist?: “🚼💨”
What’s your favorite on the bike snack?: PowerBar cola gummies
Do you have any pre-race rituals?: Music and deep breaths