Introducing: Kaia Schmid

Silver medalist in the junior women's road race Kaia Schmid of United States at the 2021 Road World Championships in Flanders
Silver medalist in the junior women's road race Kaia Schmid of United States at the 2021 Road World Championships in Flanders (Image credit: Getty Images)

Kaia Schmid is the next big star to come out of American bike racing. The 18-year-old from Marblehead, Massachusetts, had an exceptional final season as a junior rider amassing a world title and three other medals at the junior Track World Championships and a silver medal, after a two-up sprint against world champion Zoe Backstedt, at the junior women's road race at the Road World Championships in Flanders. 

The newest member of Rally Cycling, soon-to-be renamed Human Powered Health, is riding a wave of success bound for Europe in 2022 where she aims to make a strong debut on the Women's WorldTour.

Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.