Meet the Johnsons: New Mexico siblings win big at national road cycling championships

From the winding dirt roads of Dixon, New Mexico, to the national spotlight in Milwaukee, siblings Rio and Lhotse Johnson proved that elite cyclists can emerge from small, unexpected places.

Rio, 14, and younger sister Lhotse, 11 — were the only youth cyclists from New Mexico to compete in the 2025 USA Cycling Junior Road National Championships, held June 28-July 2 in Wisconsin. There, they went head-to-head with the fastest junior cyclists in the country — and turned in some impressive results.

Lhotse excelled in the girls 11-12 age group, bringing home two national titles: first place in the time trial and the road race.

Rio, competing in the boys 13-14 age group, finished fifth in time trial and 16th in a blisteringly fast road race.

Dixon is a town of just over 1,000 people nestled between Española and Taos, known more for its acequias and apple orchards than elite cyclists. But for the Johnson siblings, it’s not just home; it’s the perfect training ground.

“Just down the road, there is a really steep road going toward Peñasco, and that’s where we train a lot,” Rio said.

Both siblings started riding at the age of 3 and now train regularly with their coach, Scott Valdez. Rio logs around 10 to 11 hours of training each week; Lhotse trains about six to seven hours.

“It’s great as a coach to continue learning every year something new depending on the kids and what they need,” Valdez said. “Everyone benefits from the kids’ effort and success.”

Cycling, Rio said, runs in the family. Their father, Zach Johnson, was a competitive mountain bike racer and remains an avid bike enthusiast. The children’s development as cyclists has been steady but competing at nationals brought new challenges.

“I was pretty nervous,” Rio admitted. “It’s nationals, (you’re) racing against all the top kids in the country. But I was also excited to go out there and have the opportunity to race.”

Lhotse, despite dominating her events and hitting personal bests in both races, felt pressure, too.

“I was really nervous, almost throwing up, but it was still a really fun experience,” she remembered.

At the national championships, the siblings competed in two core events. The time trial is a solo effort against the clock. The road race is on a track with other competitors.

“We (came up with) strategies all night before,” Rio recalled. “There are a lot of mind games that go into cycling, just trying to keep your head strong because you’re pushing (so) hard. It just comes down to how strong you are and your mindset.”

Rio, who said the family rarely sees other New Mexican riders in national competition, said he and his sister were exited to represent their state on a national platform.

“I’m so proud to wear the Zia symbol on my shoulder, on my jersey,” he said.

The Johnsons are gearing up for more success. Up next, they’ll compete in the Santa Fe Hill Climb, a challenging local race on Aug. 3. But their biggest target is the Gravel National Championships in Minnesota, which kicks off Sept. 20.