CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – World-class athletes from across the nation are gearing up for the U.S.A. National Cycling ‘Pro Road’ Championships in Charleston, which will kick off on Tuesday with the timed trials category.

On Wednesday, the elite timed trials will take place. In that race, the male and female winners will automatically qualify for the U.S. Olympic Cycling team competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

For many athletes, competing in nationals is a dream come true, and several are aspiring to secure an Olympic position. Several athletes told 13 News they’ve been training for more than a decade to reach the national level.

On Monday, athletes were out on the Kanawha Boulevard riding the course to prepare for the competition. Several athletes said they’re focused on mentally preparing for whatever the competition holds, rain or shine.

18-year-old Reagan Pattishall said she traveled from Pennsylvania to compete in this race.

“A lot of rest. Just calm, focused, and visualizing what I want,” Pattishall said.

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“I think I like cycling because bikes are freedom, right? It’s the first chance of freedom that you get before you get a car,” Colorado-based cyclist Alexey Vermeulen said. He is one of hundreds competing for a top spot during this year’s nationals.

Vermeulen said he could not imagine competing without his biggest supporter, his dog Willie, who was riding with him on Monday.

“I don’t race with him. I ride with him a lot. He loves riding. He’s a miniature Dachshund, so he very much does not enjoy walking. He’s quite stubborn,” Vermeulen said. “During COVID, my girlfriend and I started riding with him, and he started loving it. So, we’ve gone from 30-minute rides up to 7-hour rides. He just is along for the ride. He’ll fall asleep if we’re going up hills sometimes. He’ll wake up if we’re going downhill. I don’t know, it’s just fun to have a friend along.”

Other top competitors say the support from their coaches and loved ones is what’s giving them that extra push to the national finish line.

Melissa Weigal, the mother of two 17-year-old twins who are competing, said, “They train all year round. In Minnesota, we do quite a bit of riding in the snow. So, they do a lot of fat bike winter ultras, different races that way, gravel races, all to get ready for nationals.”

Her daughters, Lauren and Ragan Weigal, have been training since they were 9-years-old.

“It’s a lot of fun. It’s super stressful but we’ve been doing this for so long and travel all over the country with them that it’s always exciting, and nationals, it’s great to see them race,” Weigal said, “Ideally, they’ve got Olympic dreams for 2028 in Los Angeles. We just want them to reach for whatever they want and get there.”

Pick-up and confirmation wrapped up just before 6 p.m. on Monday, and the competition will wrap up on Saturday and Sunday with the “road race.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.