A New Dawn for U.S. Cycling? Matteo Jorgenson Celebrates George Hincapie’s Ambitious New Team
Cycling in the United States has faced some tough years. The glory days were overshadowed by the scandal surrounding U.S. Postal and its superstar, Lance Armstrong, whose seven Tour de France titles were stripped due to doping. Since then, American cycling has struggled to reclaim its former prestige. But there's hope on the horizon with rising talents like Sepp Kuss, Quinn Simmons, Neilson Powless, and Matteo Jorgenson leading a new wave of competitiveness.
Jorgenson, in particular, has become a cornerstone of the Visma | Lease a Bike team. He's now considered Jonas Vingegaard's key ally in the Tour de France, even outranking 2023 Vuelta champion Sepp Kuss in terms of importance. Yet, the U.S. still needs more WorldTour teams, especially with one of its only two American WorldTour squads, Lidl-Trek, planning to switch to a German license in 2026.
This is where George Hincapie’s Modern Adventure Pro Cycling comes into play. Launching in 2026, this new team promises to breathe fresh life into U.S. cycling. Matteo Jorgenson shared his enthusiasm in an interview with Domestique, highlighting how the creation of the team signals renewed interest in road racing across America.
"I'm genuinely thrilled to see this happening. It shows that road cycling still has a pulse in the U.S., and that's fantastic," Jorgenson said, his excitement evident.
Could American Racing Make a Comeback?
One major factor behind the decline of U.S. cycling has been the disappearance of key international events. Once-iconic races like the Tour of Utah, Tour of California, and Colorado Classic have all been discontinued over the last decade. Today, only the Maryland Classic hosts WorldTour racing on American soil. Attempts to revive events like the Colorado race have yet to bear fruit.
Jorgenson sees the formation of a new U.S.-based ProTeam as a pivotal step. It not only rekindles interest among cycling fans but also motivates organizers and sponsors to consider bringing WorldTour events back to the U.S., which have been largely absent for more than five years.
Matteo Jorgenson: Passion Meets Hope
"It's heartbreaking to see road cycling in the U.S. struggle like this," said the Visma | Lease a Bike rider. "With almost no professional races and the loss of events like the Tour of California, Utah, or Colorado, it feels like an entire generation is missing out."
For Jorgenson, the dream extends beyond his own career. Watching the Tour of California as a child in his grandfather’s hometown left an indelible mark on him, inspiring his path into professional cycling. He hopes initiatives like Modern Adventure Pro Cycling will give young American riders a real opportunity to rise to the professional level.
"Seeing a race like the Tour of California live was magical for me as a kid. I want the next generation to have similar experiences. Teams like Modern Adventure Pro Cycling are exciting because they offer a clear pathway for under-23 riders and juniors to reach the pros," he added.
But here's where it gets controversial: Can a single new team really revive U.S. cycling on the world stage, or is this just a symbolic gesture? Some may argue that without the return of major races, even the best American talent might struggle to shine. What do you think — can Modern Adventure Pro Cycling spark a real renaissance for U.S. cycling, or is it too little, too late?
