USA cycling announced the additions of former professional cyclists and Fort Collins residents Kristen Arnold and Gavin Mannion to its Road Development staff. Arnold will take on the role of Women’s Development Road Director while Mannion will be the new Junior Men’s Road Director.
Kristen joins USA Cycling in 2023 as the Women’s Development Road Director eagerly cultivating high-performance development of America’s next best talent. She comes to USA Cycling with a holistic breadth of knowledge and expertise as a retired elite road cyclist, sports dietitian, cycling coach, and grassroots women’s development org founder. Kristen is a cycling coach of 8 years working with recreational to professional athletes in various disciplines, a Registered Dietitian focusing on sports nutrition for women in her private practice, and a retired domestic-elite road cyclist of 8 years racing across the USA and Canada for various domestic elite teams. In 2022 Kristen retired from racing and became the sport director for a national-level women’s team and the Olympic Development Academy program for USA Cycling.
Kristen is a Level1 USA Cycling certified coach, Registered Dietitian, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, and has a Bachelor’s in Dietetics and Master’s in Human Nutrition from The Ohio State University. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and now living in Fort Collins, Colorado with her spouse, cat, and wonderful community.
oming up through U.S. junior cycling programs himself, Gavin Mannion has a unique perspective as he steps in as the USA Cycling Junior Men’s Road Director in 2023.
Gavin is a third-generation cyclist and national champion. Both his father and grandfather hold Irish National Cycling Championship titles. Following his father’s cadence, Gavin has been engrossed in the competitive cycling scene he was a child growing up outside of Boston.
While competing as a junior, Gavin got his first taste of international cycling. He rode for professional teams from Trek-Livestrong to UCI pro team Human Powered Health. Gavin was the champion of the 2017 and 2018 USA Cycling Pro Road Tour (PRT) and 2018 Colorado Classic. His accomplishments also included European pro race wins and representing the United States at World Championships for cross and road. Gavin has taken his professional cycling experience and translated it into a coaching and directing career where he has developed young riders and national champions.
