When American skilled cyclists go away the European peloton, sometimes, they don’t discover their manner again throughout the pond.
The American skilled scene could have its struggles, but it surely will also be snug in its modest scale for athletes trying to keep near dwelling and stability biking with different skilled pursuits — particularly if the rider is nice sufficient to make it to the European skilled peloton within the first place.
However the ladies’s facet of the game in Europe is rising so quickly that the demand for expertise is rising, and groups are desirous to welcome again skilled riders alongside new, growing, expertise. Ruth Edwards, as an example, is a shining instance of how this may be profitable. The 2-time nationwide champion left the WorldTour in 2021 however, after racing the off-road circuit for 2 seasons, made her return to the European peloton in 2024 with Human Powered Well being.
It was introduced final week that the most effective criterium racer in America, Skylar Schneider, will observe swimsuit. After three years away, Schneider will return to SD Worx-Protime in 2025.
“Once I first got here again to the States, I thought-about retiring from racing and going again to highschool full-time,” Schneider instructed Biking Weekly. “
When Danny [Stam, SD-Worx Team Manager] and I made the choice to not renew my contract for 2021. It was bittersweet however I knew it was the fitting factor for me and for the workforce. I instructed him that I’d attain out sooner or later if I used to be prepared to return again.”
That point has now come.
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A reset to her bread and butter
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
In 2018, Schneider made her WorldTour debut as a part of the SD-Worx (which was known as Boels-Dolmans on the time). She was 19 years outdated and coming off a massively profitable junior profession, which culminated in a silver medal on the 2016 Junior World Championships behind Elisa Balsamo.
However ladies’s professional racing was a a lot smaller scene, providing fewer alternatives for younger riders than it does in the present day. This was very true at Boels-Dolmans, which, then as now, was the highest workforce and residential to most of the world’s finest riders. Because of this, alternatives which may have been obtainable to somebody like Schneider on a smaller skilled workforce have been more durable to return by.
That, paired with feeling homesick and carrying the stress of any skilled biking profession, all boiled up in 2020 to the purpose the place Schneider needed to hit the reset button with out a lot consideration for what would come subsequent.
“Once I went to Europe the primary time, I used to be actually younger and never fairly able to be residing alone so far-off from dwelling. The primary yr went alright as the whole lot was new and thrilling and I used to be performing effectively on the bike, however I grew to be very homesick,” Schneider mentioned.
Thankfully for her, the reset didn’t take lengthy.
In 2021, Schneider returned to the US and made her yr all about having enjoyable on the bike and going again to her roots within the American criterium scene.
She discovered a house and a residing with the L39ion of Los Angeles workforce on the top of its energy. Enjoyable shortly changed into profitable reliably whereas off the bike, she discovered success in launching a bakery enterprise.
Her performances led to a visit to Europe with USA Biking, a cameo on the 2022 UCI Highway World Championships, and, in the end, to revisit her dialog with Danny Stam from two years prior.
“I would not change something about [my first WorldTour] expertise because it ready me to return and do issues in another way,” mentioned Schneider. “In 2023 it turned clear to me that I wished to return so I despatched a message to Danny, and he remembered our final dialog, and that was after we made the plan to deliver me again in 2025.
“It was actually a singular and dream state of affairs because it gave me a yr to arrange to return and it meant the most effective workforce on the earth was holding a spot for me.”
From SD Worx’s perspective, the sensation of wanting to present it one other go was mutual. Particularly, Danny Stam noticed the success that Schneider present in the US for instance of the success she continues to be able to in Europe.
“Profitable retains profitable, you must have sure qualities for that,” Stam mentioned in a workforce press launch. “I believe she will be of nice worth within the lead-out for Lorena Wiebes, however can even develop additional. By way of character, she matches the workforce and I’m additionally satisfied that bodily she has the ‘engine’ to compete on the highest stage.”
Maturing right into a maturing sport
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Now, at 26 years outdated, it appears as if Schneider and the Girls’s WorldTour have each matured to the purpose the place the Wisconsin all-rounder can return and convert on the expertise that has promised a lot for therefore lengthy.
“I’ve very actual expectations about how arduous it is going to be to re-join the Girls’s WorldTour and the way excessive the extent has gotten,” Schneider acknowledged.
“Thankfully, I had the chance to attend SD Worx’s February coaching camp this previous winter to expertise this firsthand. It was actually fascinating to see how a lot ladies’s biking has developed and the way way more skilled it has develop into since I left.”
Equally, she’s conscious that homesickness will nonetheless be an element, but it surely’s one she’s able to deal with.
“I am very shut with my household and since opening our enterprise, I really feel very linked to our group. Identical to final time, being away from dwelling can be arduous. However, it is one thing that I am ready for this time and I am hoping to have household and buddies come go to me in Europe as a lot as they’ll,” she commented.
Schneider’s second probability in Europe is a rarity. Spots are hardly saved on the most effective groups on the earth, and as soon as a rider takes their foot off the gasoline pedal at 23, it takes quite a bit to get the depth again. The important thing underpinning all of it, although, is the understanding that it doesn’t come any simpler, you simply realize it higher.
“I am eager for any alternative to contribute to SD Worx’s success and see myself being extra of a domestique for this primary yr again. I can not wait to be part of the lead-out prepare and would like to deal with growing into one of many quickest sprinters on the earth. That is not going to occur immediately but it surely’s a pleasant purpose to have for the subsequent few years,” she mentioned.
“I understand how unimaginable this chance is and with that comes some sacrifices, so I actually need to take advantage of it.”
