Fort Collins teen wins USA Cycling national championship

Add another medal for Northern Colorado's prodigious cycling community.

Fort Collins teenager Joe Zukowski took home gold last weekend in the age 13-14 division at the USA Cycling junior road racing national championships in Augusta, Ga.

The 14-year-old Zukowski won the 15-mile race in a time of 39 minutes and 36 seconds to fend off a tightly packed field of nearly 40 elite riders.

Boxed in with the crowd throughout the race, Zukowski finally made his move in the final 500 meters, sprinting up and back down the final hill to win by less than four bike lengths.

"Once I finished the hill, I looked back to see the other riders coming. I knew that I had to put in one last push to the line," Zukowski said. "I was surprised that I was able to cross the line first."

It was the first major national race win for Zukowski, who will start high school at Rocky Mountain in August. He had also won Colorado junior titles in the Natural Grocers Criterium (June) and Superior Morgul Road Race (May).

The win was particularly special for the Zukowski family, though.

Younger brother Ben also competed in the race, earning a top-30 finish. All told, 10 family members were out in force to support them. A cousin even had custom family T-shirts made for the occasion.

"It was awesome because I have never had other family members watch my races other than my parents," Zukowski said. "It was special to get the win having them there."

Even at a young age, he has already been heavily involved with the local cycling community, riding with First City Cycling Team with father and coach Chris Zukowski.

Joe got his start mountain biking with the Nighthawks, a kids' group Chris founded. He eventually embraced road racing by the fifth grade, preferring the higher speeds and challenge of riding long distances.

"I love the road cycling community in Fort Collins," Joe said. "The cyclists in the group taught me many skills and pushed me to the max."

His cycling family pushed him and he maxed out all the way to a national championship.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins teen wins USA Cycling national championship