A mountain bike gem: Kelsey Urban’s Stars and Stripes bike
According to cycling lore, the history of mountain biking began in California. To this day, the discipline remains hugely popular there. That makes it a great honor for KMC Nukeproof to have the American Cross-Country Olympic champion Kelsey Urban (27) on the team. Especially for her, Nukeproof created a unique version of the Hyperfly, made possible thanks to the in-house paint facility at the Belgian factory.
Kelsey is originally from California and learned to ride on the parking lots of her school. Her passion for cycling came from her parents. Like many young riders, the journey included plenty of scraped knees before she truly mastered the craft. Although she once dreamed of becoming a photographer for National Geographic, it soon became clear that she also possessed exceptional talent on the bike. The connection with nature she was looking for was ultimately found in mountain biking. As a teenager, her affinity with the sport continued to grow.
In 2025, Kelsey joined the team of Bart Brentjens, which was still known as KMC Ridley at the time. It immediately proved to be a strong season. She won the Orange Seal Pro Cup on home soil, became U.S. national champion and collected several top-10 finishes in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. At the World Championships in Valais, Switzerland, she secured a solid 19th place.
Kelsey is originally from California and learned to ride on the parking lots of her school. Her passion for cycling came from her parents. Like many young riders, the journey included plenty of scraped knees before she truly mastered the craft. Although she once dreamed of becoming a photographer for National Geographic, it soon became clear that she also possessed exceptional talent on the bike. The connection with nature she was looking for was ultimately found in mountain biking. As a teenager, her affinity with the sport continued to grow.
In 2025, Kelsey joined the team of Bart Brentjens, which was still known as KMC Ridley at the time. It immediately proved to be a strong season. She won the Orange Seal Pro Cup on home soil, became U.S. national champion and collected several top-10 finishes in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. At the World Championships in Valais, Switzerland, she secured a solid 19th place.
Los Angeles
Naturally, the American is already looking ahead to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The biggest race of the four-year Olympic cycle taking place in her proverbial backyard is a dream scenario for any American mountain biker. For now, however, Urban is trying to keep those long-term ambitions at a distance and focus on the upcoming races. The start of the 2026 season has been promising, including a second place at the Shimano Supercup Massi in La Nucia and a third place in Banyoles.
A special design was developed for her Hyperfly, subtly incorporating the Stars and Stripes of the American flag. The bike combines modern cross-country geometry with a single-pivot rear suspension and is fully tailored to the preferences of the American champion. The Hyperfly is not yet commercially available, but that will change in the future.
The unique paintwork was made possible thanks to the integration of Nukeproof within Belgian Cycling Factory, which operates its own paint facility at its headquarters in Beringen. This expertise allows the creation of unique designs such as Urban’s Stars and Stripes bike. Through the configurator, riders can also fully personalize their own Nukeproof in the colors of their dreams.
A special design was developed for her Hyperfly, subtly incorporating the Stars and Stripes of the American flag. The bike combines modern cross-country geometry with a single-pivot rear suspension and is fully tailored to the preferences of the American champion. The Hyperfly is not yet commercially available, but that will change in the future.
The unique paintwork was made possible thanks to the integration of Nukeproof within Belgian Cycling Factory, which operates its own paint facility at its headquarters in Beringen. This expertise allows the creation of unique designs such as Urban’s Stars and Stripes bike. Through the configurator, riders can also fully personalize their own Nukeproof in the colors of their dreams.
