A New Era Dawns for American Cycling: Can This New Team Balance Sky-High Hype with Real-World Ambitions?
Get ready, cycling fans! America's newest professional bike team, Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, is about to make its grand debut, and the air is thick with a potent mix of excitement and a healthy dose of nerves. This isn't just any new team; it's the first major U.S. men's squad in over a decade to venture into the demanding, big-budget world of professional cycling, and the pressure is palpable as they gear up for their inaugural competition.
Founded by the legendary former pro George Hincapie and his partners, this U.S.-registered team is set to officially pin on race numbers for the first time next week at the AlUla Tour (running from January 27th to 31st). This debut marks the culmination of a whirlwind year spent building everything from the ground up: securing funding, recruiting talented riders and staff, and establishing the necessary infrastructure.
"It's incredibly exciting. While there are definitely some nerves among the team, everyone is absolutely thrilled to get this project rolling," shared sport director Alex Howes in a conversation with Velo. "For many teams, the AlUla Tour might not be the biggest event on their calendar, but for a brand-new team like ours, it's both a thrilling opportunity and, frankly, a little bit terrifying. This isn't some local race; we'll be competing against WorldTour racers and established teams, so we're immensely grateful and excited to be there."
The team's long-term vision is ambitious: to reach the prestigious Tour de France within the next five years and cultivate an American "Dream Team" that champions North American talent. Right now, though, the sheer accomplishment of getting the team off the ground and into its first races is a monumental victory for everyone involved.
But here's where the real challenge begins.
Hincapie's Legendary Rolodex Opens Doors
After a rigorous training camp in Girona, Spain, Howes and his team are finalizing the intricate logistics for their journey to Saudi Arabia. This debut feels particularly significant for a first-year project, especially given the influx of invitations to major races that have already started to pour in.
Team officials have confirmed to Velo that Modern Adventure will also be competing in the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia, the Vuelta a Andalucía Ruta Ciclista del Sol, and the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. And more race invites are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Hincapie's extensive network, built over two decades competing in the WorldTour peloton, has clearly paid dividends. "We're incredibly thankful that ASO (the organizers of the Tour de France) took our call," Howes expressed, referring to the AlUla invite. "It's a truly special moment for our entire organization."
These early invitations signal a strong interest from race organizers to see another prominent American team back in the international cycling scene. Adding to this momentum, officials recently confirmed that Modern Adventure has received its first WorldTour-level invitation to race the Volta a Catalunya (March 23rd-29th). This coveted spot opened up when Picnic PostNL withdrew, creating an opening in a highly competitive field that will feature stars like Jonas Vingegaard (in his final race before the Giro d'Italia) and the Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe duo of Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz. Such elite company is remarkable for a team that, just about 12 months ago, was little more than an ambitious idea shared among friends.
'Like Building a Plane While It's on the Runway'
The squad is already piecing together an impressive racing calendar that will ensure their distinctive jerseys are visible across Europe and at key North American events. Their operational hub and team headquarters are now established in Girona, Spain – a renowned cycling mecca that has hosted international cyclists for decades.
"It's a bit like building the airplane while it's on the runway," Howes quipped during our call. "But things are coming together remarkably well. It's an immense undertaking to build a team from scratch, and everyone has been dedicating their full time to this for the past year."
No one is talking about grand tours in their debut season – UCI rules wouldn't even permit it. The ultimate goal of racing in the Tour de France is certainly the long game. However, before any dreams of the yellow jersey, there will be years of demanding work and inevitable challenges. Even securing a few victories in this first season would be a massive achievement for cycling's newest startup.
This inaugural year is primarily focused on unifying the 21-rider roster into a cohesive racing unit and establishing credibility within the professional peloton.
Balancing Ambitions and the Buzz
Speaking from their training camp, Howes conveyed that the operation is primed to hit the road at full throttle. The team's roster is a carefully curated blend of top North American talent, a few riders with WorldTour experience, and some promising under-the-radar prospects.
It's widely acknowledged that competing at the highest levels of professional cycling presents a significant step up in competition for many on the team. "Our initial priority was building a strong team culture. We wanted riders who would gel well together," Howes explained. "Now, we need to translate that into tangible results. We're not under immediate pressure to chase UCI points. Our ownership provides stability, allowing us to concentrate on racing as a unified team, establishing our systems, and building for the future."
It's no wonder there's a palpable sense of anticipation. Modern Adventure's arrival is significant, marking the first major U.S. men's team with serious international aspirations to launch since 2007.
For now, expectations are being kept realistic. While the ultimate goal is Tour de France glory, the immediate focus is on 'Racing 101'. "It's a little daunting to realize our first race is next week, but it's also incredibly rewarding to see all our hard work coming to fruition," Howes admitted. "We're not just aiming to participate; we're ready to compete."
The Return of a Major U.S. Men's Team
American cycling fans have been eagerly awaiting a new team since 2007, a landmark year that saw the emergence of three significant North American programs.
Slipstream Sports debuted that year and has evolved into today's EF Education-EasyPost, maintaining a strong U.S. identity and competing at the highest echelons of the WorldTour peloton nearly two decades later.
The Rally/Human Powered Health program also launched in 2007, building a substantial European presence before discontinuing its men's program at the end of 2023 to concentrate on its women's team.
BMC Racing, spearheaded by the veteran Jim Ochowicz (formerly of 7-Eleven and Motorola), also emerged in 2007. The team achieved a Tour de France victory with Cadel Evans in 2011 before exiting the sport following its merger with CCC during the challenging COVID-impacted 2020 season.
Since then, American cycling has faced numerous setbacks, including race cancellations and team foldings. While criterium racing and the burgeoning gravel scene have kept the domestic scene vibrant, the return of a major road racing team with European ambitions has been long overdue.
Modern Adventure's backers are confident that there's a significant appetite among American fans for a fresh road racing team with grand aspirations. "We're aiming to generate excitement back in the States," Howes stated. "We want to give American fans someone to passionately support, and hopefully, attract significant sponsorship back into the sport. We're committed to playing our part in elevating cycling."
And it all kicks off next week in Saudi Arabia.
But is this ambitious project sustainable in the long run, or is it destined to be another flash in the pan? What do you think the biggest challenges will be for this new team? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
