Ice and Ruts No Match for the Pair from Colorado – Musgrave and Hludzinski Juniors Women 11-12

by David Mable

No stranger to cold weather or holeshots, Haydn Hludzinski (Boulder Junior Cycling/Boulder, CO) shot off the front and into the first corner of the Junior Women 11-12 race on Saturday. Still leading halfway into the first lap, Hludzinski was chased by her close friend and local rival Kaya Musgrave (Avout Racing/Littleton, CO).

Just because they are Juniors doesn’t mean they don’t know how to draw a crowd. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Junior Women 11-12. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“It was amazing,” said Hludzinski about her race against her friend. “She and I are such good buddies and we both want each other to do great. I beat her like two years ago and now she got me back. We always go back and forth with each other.”

Over the frozen mud, Musgrave chased and eventually overtook her rival, holding on until the finish, and winning her second stars and stripes jersey.

Haydn Hludzinski leads her good friend Kaya Musgrave. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Junior Women 11-12. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“It was good,” said Musgrave. “It was fun…and kinda sad because we both wanna win but at the end we’re still friends so that’s good. Afterwards we can talk about what happened with each other and stuff. It’s kinda weird but cool.”

Musgrave used her mountain biking skills to maneuver through the hard, frozen ruts, which began to get more slippery as the race went on due to the beginning of a Northeastern winter storm.

Greta Kilburn had a good race and would finish the day in third. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Junior Women 11-12. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“I think back in the woods was really good for me,” Musgrave said. “I liked how technical it was.”

Hludzinski stayed close to her friend, but was unable to pass her before the finish line.

Each with their lucky charms, pigtails and helmet streamers, the top-two steps on the podium seemed imminent to each of them.

Kaya Musgrave (Avout Racing) from Littleton, CO won a close race with her fellow Coloradoan (and good friend) Haydn Hludzinski (Boulder Junior Cycling) who finished in second. Only two seconds separated them at the finish. 2017 Cyclocross National Championships, Junior Women 11-12. © D. Mable / Cyclocross Magazine

“I think the pigtails are lucky,” said Musgrave.

“I went to SIMBA mountain bike camp during the Fourth of July,” said Hludzinski. “We decorated our helmets and our mountain bikes and I just kept them on. I’ve actually won three National Championships with it, so it’s my lucky charm. I think I’ll try and keep them on until I race elite.”
Finishing in third was Greta Kilburn from Burlington, Vermont, just over 30 seconds behind Hludzinski.

2017 CX National Championships Hartford Day 5 Results Juniors Women 11-12