"I'll donate all prize money since June" - Megan Jastrab launches a GoFundMe to send US junior women to Kigali Worlds Championships

The first-ever World Championships of African continent will be an important milestone for the globalization of cycling. But it'll be also marked by an absence (or reduced participation) of certain national teams. To the already-long list now adds United States who have confirmed that they don't intend to fill in all available quota spots for every event. The junior women would be affected by this decision.

In an attempt to help compatriots, 2019 junior world champion Megan Jastrab launched a GoFundMe with aim to collect enough money to field a 5-strong team in Kigali. The Picnic PostNL sprinter adds that she'll donate a considerable amount of her most recently earned prizemoney.

"My experience at Junior Worlds shaped my life and career. It opened doors that helped me pursue cycling professionally," Jastrab writes on the 'Help Junior Women Represent Team USA at Road Worlds' GoFundMe page. "It was only possible because of the generous people who supported me and helped me get there."

"My aim is to raise $10,000 to increase the number of athletes USA Cycling can take and to make sure the juniors selected do not need to worry about funding their trip. I want these incredible young athletes to be able to focus on what matters most - racing their hearts out for Team USA."

To help meet the $10,000 goal, Jastrab said she is "personally donating all the prize money I earn(ed) from June of 2025 till the Road World Championships."

The US federation puts a participation pricetag at $2,000 (for kit, lodging, food, transportation, race support and travel insurance), while riders have to buy their own plane tickets. Jastrab hopes to help reduce these costs. "I'll work closely with USA Cycling to make sure all the funds that are collected will be distributed to the junior women program," Jastrab concluded.

Two days after launch, the GoFundMe is already past the $3,600 mark.