A 17-year-old national team rider for USA Cycling has died following a training accident, the organization announced on Sunday.
Magnus White, a promising young rider who’d just earned a spot on the Mountain Bike World Championships team, was struck by a vehicle while riding in his hometown of Boulder, Colo.
“White was focused on his final preparations before leaving for Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the Junior Men’s Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships on August 10, 2023,” USA Cycling announced in a press release. “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time. We ride for Magnus.”
A spokesperson for USA Cycling declined to comment on further details but noted that plans to honor White’s life are in progress.
“We are still awaiting the memorial plans in Boulder, but we will share those with the community once they are finalized,” the spokesperson told GearJunkie.
A Career Cut Short
According to USA Cycling, White placed first at the 2021 Junior 17-18 Cyclocross National Championships before competing at the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championship in Fayetteville, Ark. He also competed in the 2023 Cyclocross World Championships in 2023.
“The summer of 2023 marked a new chapter for White, where he earned a spot on the Mountain Bike World Championships team,” USA Cycling noted in its press release.
Christine Lipson (Rapinz), the mother of one of Magnus’s teammates, offered more details on the young man’s life in a GoFundMe post.
“He began cycling when he was eight and quickly rose through the cycling ranks. Magnus’s journey in cycling was driven by a tireless work ethic and a deep desire to achieve his personal best,” she wrote. “He was proud to represent his community and country around the world. Magnus accomplished many of the goals he set for himself.”
“Magnus’s family is strong, but support from their community will go a long way to give them time to grieve,” she continued.
