Ava Holmgren earns first World Cup 'cross podium in quest to defend Pan-Am junior title

Isabella Holmgren (left) stands next to sister Ava Holmgren, wearing the Pan-American Cyclo-cross junior champions jersey
Isabella Holmgren (left) stands next to sister Ava Holmgren, wearing the Pan-American Cyclo-cross junior champions jersey, after a course pre-ride at World Cup Waterloo (Image credit: Jackie Tyson/ Cyclingnews)

Ava Holmgren wanted to show off her junior women's Pan-American Cyclocross Championships jersey in World Cup races this season and soared to a podium finish on Sunday at World Cup Maasmechelen in Belgium.

Competition has been fierce, especially since the 17-year-old doesn’t need to look far from home to find her top challenger, fellow Canadian and twin sister Isabella, who was the bronze medalist a year ago at Pan-Ams in Garland, Texas. 

Jackie Tyson
North American Production editor

Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. She has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast). Her favorite road and gravel rides are around horse farms in north Georgia (USA) and around lavender fields in Provence (France), and some mtb rides in Park City, Utah (USA).