Scarsdale Junior Bennett Rose Is Making His Mark in Elite Cycling

Scarsdale High School junior Bennett Rose is proving that extraordinary athletic achievement can happen right here in our community. A 16-year-old honors student and recently inducted member of the SHS Signifer honor society, Bennett is also one of the fastest junior road cyclists in the country, and he reached that level just two years after entering his first race.

Bennett began racing in early 2024 in entry-level and junior events around the New York region, quickly earning podium finishes. His rapid progression culminated in earning a Category 1 USA Cycling license, the highest amateur classification and just one level below professional racing.

Today, USA Cycling ranks Bennett No. 1 among U.S. junior road cyclists ages 16–18.

Over the past two seasons, Bennett has repeatedly reached the podium in highly competitive Pro/1/2 races, competing alongside some of the country's strongest amateur and professional riders. This year, he finished second overall at the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico, one of North America's most demanding stage races, with two stage podium finishes. He is also a three-time New York State junior champion and holds the junior hour record at the Queens Kissena Velodrome.

In September, Bennett won the 17/18 division at the USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships, earning a national champion's jersey for the third consecutive year. He also recorded the fastest overall men's time of the day, beating adults in every other age category.

"Bennett's rise has been remarkable," said Jeff Poulin, President of the New York State Bicycle Racing Association. "In just two seasons he has gone from his first races to national titles and wins against some of the strongest racers in the Northeast. He is a wonderful ambassador for junior cycling in this state.”

Bennett has become particularly known for his climbing ability. This season, he won the 2026 BUMPS men's overall championship, becoming the youngest winner in the history of the series.

At the legendary Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb in New Hampshire, one of the most notorious and grueling climbs in North America, Bennett won the junior division for the second consecutive year, and he finished among the top six riders overall in a field that included current and former World Tour professionals. He also set a new under-19 course record, breaking the record he had established himself the previous year.

His accomplishments have taken him beyond the United States as well. Bennett travels to Girona, Spain, each spring to train and has competed internationally with his team, New England Development, including at the Junior Tour of Ireland and in the Austrian Alps, adding international podium finishes to his list of accomplishments.

"What people don't see is the work Bennett puts in every single day," said Bennett's coach Van Zyl, a former World Tour pro. “Cycling is the ultimate endurance sport that rewards perseverance and dedication. Bennett is disciplined, he is consistent, and he never cuts corners in training. His results this season have been truly exceptional. At 16, he is beating adults at some of the most elite amateur events in the country."

Bennett’s commitment extends beyond racing. He has worked for the past two years at Greenwich Bicycles, balancing his job with school and an increasingly demanding national racing schedule. He also supports Best Buddies International, serving this year as a cycling ambassador and fundraiser for the organization's 100-mile Best Buddies Challenge.

For Bennett, however, the accomplishments are about more than medals and records. He is a Scarsdale High School student first and foremost, and he is proud to represent his hometown while pursuing his passion for cycling. With one final season remaining as a junior cyclist, he is already looking ahead.

"I'm inspired to put in the work this winter so I can reach my goals next season," Bennett said. "It will be my last year racing as a junior, and I very much want to build on my results from the last two years."