Gavin Hlady
Hometown
Sunnyvale, California, USA
Date of birth
1 February 2003
Languages
English
American U23 road race and criterium champion Gavin Hlady grew up in Sunnyvale, California. His dad was a racer and got him into the sport when he was a kid. He joined his high-school mountain bike team, did his first road races, and was soon progressing through the ranks from Cat.4 to Cat.2. Last summer, while racing for Aevolo, Gavin finished sixth at the US Pro Road National Championships with the elites.
He is a punchy bike rider, who excels on hard, hilly circuits, where the pace rarely lets up and the racing rewards staying power. Gavin’s big goal for this season is to win a UCI race in Europe. He hopes that will launch him straight into the WorldTour.
Last year, he got the chance to do some races with EF Education-EasyPost as a stagiare and will use that experience to propel him ahead of his rivals this season. This could be his make or break year.
To give himself the best chance to succeed, Gavin has moved to Girona, Spain, where he is enjoying exploring all of the quiet roads and sunny climbs.
Off the bike, he enjoys bowling, pickleball, and golf. Gavin is taking a break from his studies in mechanical engineering this year to focus full-time on racing and is very impressed by the tech on his brand new Cannondale Lab71 SuperSix Evo team bike.
Questions & Answers
How did you get into cycling?
My father used to race bikes so he got me riding. I started racing in the NICA high school league and then branched to road.
What is your favourite climb? What makes it special?
Montevina, in Los Gatos, California. Minimal traffic, great views, good road surface, and plenty of twisties.
When a race gets tough, what do you tell yourself?
I just think about why I enjoy biking in the first place and that racing is a means to enjoy that.
If you weren't a professional cyclist, what would you be? Why?
Mechanical Engineer. This is what I was studying in school and what I want to do when I am done racing.
What is your favourite word in your native language? What does it mean? What do you like about it?
Sleepy. I just think it’s fun to say.