U.S. cyclists Matteo Jorgenson, Neilson Powless, and Kristen Faulkner opt out of the World Championships in Rwanda for their national team
The United States Cycling Team has announced its squad for the upcoming UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, with some notable absences and new leaders taking the helm.
In the under-23 category, Ella Sabo (Virginia's Blue Ridge-TWENTY28) will lead the women's team, while Cole Kessler (Lidl-Trek Future Racing) will head the men's team. Evan Boyle (Hagens Berman Jayco) and Cole Kessler will participate in both the road race and time trial.
The elite women's team will see Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) leading the charge, with Ruth Edwards (Human Powered Health) joining her for the race and time trial. Unfortunately, Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner will not participate in the elite women's race.
Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) will lead the elite men's team in the road race, with Will Barta (Movistar), Luke Lamperti (Soudal Quick-Step), Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers), Kevin Vermaerke (Picnic PostNL), and Larry Warbasse (Tudor Pro Cycling) completing the team. Barta and Sheffield will also participate in the time trial.
The elite men's road race promises to be a gruelling test, with over 6,000m of elevation in 267.5km, while the elite women's equivalent features 3,676m in 164.6km.
Notably, Matteo Jorgenson, Kristen Faulkner, Neilson Powless, and Brandon McNulty have declined their nominations for the World Championships. In their absence, Lukas Nerurkar will represent the US cycling team.
In the junior categories, Ashlin Barry will compete in the junior men's road race, and Alyssa Sarkisov will compete in the junior women's road race.
The Kigali courses for the UCI Road World Championships are set to test every rider with its challenging terrain and altitude. The USA is not alone in taking reduced squads to the World Championships; Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, France, and Ireland are also sending reduced squads.
The World Championships in Rwanda are shaping up to be an exciting event, with the USA's new leaders ready to take on the challenge.
