The U.S. will be sending a robust team of athletes to the road cycling world championships next month, with many competitors fresh from the Tour de France. Among the seven-man squad announced on Monday are a series of noteworthy riders: Neilson Powless, Matteo Jorgenson, Lawson Craddock, Quinn Simmons, Magnus Sheffield, Sean Quinn, and Brandon McNulty. All the riders are due to participate in a series of events, with Sheffield competing in both the road race and time trial, and McNulty only the time trial. The remainder of the team will compete in the road race.
On the women’s side, the U.S. will be represented by a strong contingent led by Chloe Dygert, Kristen Faulkner, Amber Neben, Veronica Ewers, Heidi Franz, Megan Jastrab, Coryn Labecki, Skylar Schneider, and Lauren Stephens. Dygert, a previous U.S. road and time trial title winner, has made an impressive comeback to competitive cycling after a severe crash in 2019.
The championships will kick off on August 3 in Scotland and run for a total of ten days. This year’s event is unique as it combines the championships from the other Olympic cycling disciplines. The men’s race is set for Aug. 6, from Edinburgh to Glasgow. The women’s road race will be held on August 13, with the route extending from Balloch to Glasgow. The women’s time trial is set for August 10, with the men’s time trial scheduled for the following day.
The recently concluded Tour de France provided a rest day on Monday before resuming Tuesday with a hilly stage from Vulcania to Issoire. Two team members, Neilson Powless, who currently wears the Tour’s polka dot jersey as the king of the mountains, and Matteo Jorgenson, who nearly won the stage to the summit finish at Puy de Dome, will join the championships from the tour. Quinn Simmons, the U.S. road race champion, had to withdraw from the Tour after a Stage 5 crash caused lingering injuries. However, he will be participating in the championships.
On the women’s side, Chloe Dygert will lead the team and is in strong form after finishing well in sprint stages at the Giro Donne last week. Kristen Faulkner will be taking part in the TT only and still needs to recover from a fractured knee suffered in a road collision. Amber Neben will also only do the TT, she qualified by winning the Pan-American Continental Championships in the discipline. Heidi Franz will be gearing up by racing the Baloise Ladies Tour this week.
USA Cycling World Championships men’s squad
- Neilson Powless
- Matteo Jorgenson
- Lawson Craddock
- Quinn Simmons
- Magnus Sheffield
- Sean Quinn
- Brandon McNulty
USA Cycling World Championships women’s squad
- Chloe Dygert
- Kristen Faulkner
- Amber Neben
- Veronica Ewers
- Heidi Franz
- Megan Jastrab
- Coryn Labecki
- Skylar Schneider
- Lauren Stephens
