The 2024 Tour de France will get underway in Florence, Italy, on Saturday, June 29, with a peloton of 176 riders unfold throughout 22 groups.
This 12 months, solely 4 American riders are amongst them, however primarily based on their robust performances of late, this small contingent holds nice promise. Listed here are the 4 U.S. riders competing on this 12 months’s Tour de France.
Sepp Kuss (Visma – Lease a motorcycle)
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Sepp Kuss, the so-called “Eagle of Durango” has lengthy been celebrated for being among the best climbers within the peloton and an indispensable helper within the Grand Tour success of Primož Roglič and Jonas Vingegaard.
However final season, the 29-year-old Coloradan lastly acquired a shot at his personal glory at La Vuelta a España, and made it rely. He earned the long-lasting purple jersey after stage eight and, regardless of some questionable crew antics, managed to maintain all of it the way in which to Madrid 13 phases later. In doing so, Kuss grew to become the primary American to win a Grand Tour in a decade and the second American ever to win the Vuelta. The helper turned hero in a single day, proving that he is capable of lead a crew when given the prospect.
On the Tour, nevertheless, Kuss will as soon as once more function Jonas Vingegaard‘s useful lieutenant, however as we have seen him do earlier than, he could nab a mountain stage win or two if the chance presents itself.
Matteo Jorgenson (Visma – Lease a motorcycle)
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
If Kuss is Vingegaard‘s lieutenant, then Matteo Jorgenson could be his sergeant. The 24-year-old Idahoan is new to the Visma – Lease a Bike squad this 12 months, however he has already confirmed himself a succesful and versatile asset. He claimed the highest step of the rostrum after a formidable solo journey at Dwars Door Vlaanderen and have become the third American ever to win a stage within the Paris-Good race this spring.
Regardless of his younger age, Jorgenson is making his third Tour de France look. Expectations are excessive after his thrilling performances final 12 months, when he cleverly rode himself into a number of breakaways. And who can overlook his stage 9 efficiency? He captured the hearts of American followers that day, attacking solo and racing up the Puy de Dôme, solely to be caught by the race leaders within the final 500 metres. Whether or not serving his crew chief or looking for a stage win, Jorgenson will probably be an thrilling rider to observe on the Tour.
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Neilson Powless (EF Training-EasyPost)
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Matteo Jorgenson wasn’t the one American flying up the climbs ultimately 12 months’s Tour. In his fourth Tour de France in service of the EF Training-EasyPost crew, Neilson Powless rode himself into the dotted King of the Mountain’s jersey on stage two –the first American to put on the jersey since 2017– and managed to carry onto it till stage 15, proving himself as among the best climbers within the pack.
Attributable to a nagging knee damage, we have seen fairly little of the California native this 2024 season, although he did seem like in robust type on the USA Biking Nationwide Street Racing championship. Right here, he helped his teammate Sean Quinn take dwelling the title whereas he himself walked away with a bronze medal in each the nationwide highway race and time trial championship.
Whether or not he’ll be going for an additional stint within the polka dot jersey or going for stage wins has but to be seen. Both method, he’ll be a rider to observe from the get-go, because the opening stage seems to be to be reasonably hilly already.
Sean Quinn (EF Training-EasyPost)
(Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
Twenty-four-year-old Sean Quinn will probably be making his Tour de France debut this 12 months. Sporting his newly earned stars-and-stripes jersey, the U.S. nationwide highway racing champion will possible journey in service of E.F. Training’s extra senior riders, comparable to Richard Carapaz, Rui Costa, Alberto Bettiol and Powless.
With out a G.C. contender to problem riders like Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar, the American crew will give attention to securing particular person stage wins. As a robust climber with a strong dash, Quinn is well-equipped to contribute to his crew’s quest for its first stage victory since 2022.
