American juniors ready for the challenge at E3 Saxo Classic 🇺🇸
Ashlin Barry, Enzo Edmonds and Enzo Hincapie headline the United States team in the junior race
On Friday morning, the vast majority of attention in the centre of Harelbeke will fall on the WorldTour peloton as it gathers for E3 Saxo Classic. The Alpecin and Visma buses will be mobbed as Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert headline a stellar field for the men’s elite race.
However, a few hours before the large crowds gather, the small matter of the junior race will take place, with national teams and a selection of trade squads taking part in the 139km race that incorporates many of the famous climbs the WorldTour riders will face.
On Thursday afternoon, US team director and former rider Gavin Mannion was in Harelbeke to pick up his riders’ race numbers and road books.
As a junior, Mannion made the trip from the US to Europe many times, often staying in the USA Cycling house in Izegem, Belgium, alongside the likes of Taylor Phinney, Daniel Holloway, and Cole House.
These days, the US base in Izegem no longer exists, and Mannion, 33, is the responsible adult looking after a team that includes Ashlin Barry, who will go pro with Visma-Lease a Bike in 2026, and Enzo Hincapie. If those two names sound familiar, it’s because Enzo is the son of former rider George Hincapie, and Barry’s parents are Michael Barry and Dede Demet-Barry.
Barry is likely to be the United States’ best hope for Friday. The 17-year-old had a breakout season in 2024, winning the junior national road race, finishing seventh in Paris-Roubaix, and impressing with two top tens at Worlds. Hincapie, who is a year younger, is following in Barry’s footsteps and rides for the EF Education ONTO team. Enzo Edmonds is another rider on the team to watch on Friday, along with fellow squad members Rowan Child, Ben Juracich, and another EF rider, Caden Freyre.
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Although Barry certainly has experience racing in Europe, the rest of the squad is entering uncharted territory regarding the harsh reality of racing on Belgian cobbles. It’s going to be a baptism of fire for the young riders.
“Alongside Ashlin, it’s a talented squad, but there’s not a lot of UCI experience from the younger guys,” Mannion told us.