🇺🇸 American misfit in the world of pro cycling 🐺 Previous editions of "Tuesday Howl" at https://teapaw.org/t.co/WeOGao7hmb
United States Of America
Joined March 2026
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🐺Tuesday Howl🐺
🇺🇸 Tuesday Howl #25: Timing Is Everything🕐
Especially in cycling.
I saw this article from Velo asking whether American cycling has reached its “golden generation.”
velo.outsideonline.com/road/…
So...have we?
I’m genuinely curious what people who have followed this sport much longer than I have think. Because, for what it’s worth, I apparently picked one hell of a time to start paying closer attention to cycling - especially American cycling!
When I started this account, part of the motivation was feeling a little out of place in a sport still dominated by fans from outside the US. I was the American guy trying to figure all of this out - and I still very much am. What I didn’t expect was to watch this many American riders have this much success in the same season.
Brandon McNulty - World Champion. I mean that one alone...🤯 Andrew August - 20 years old and a breakout Czech Tour winner. Ashlin Barry - 19 years old and U23 World Champion. And then you factor in some other things in the works.
George Hincapie’s Modern Adventure Pro Cycling @maprocycling is competing at the ProTeam level, with ambitions of eventually reaching the World Tour and Grand Tours the same way I have ambitions of being their X account manager....(no not really lol). And somewhere behind all of THIS is George's son, 18-year-old Enzo Hincapie who probably looks at Ashlin Barry and thinks "why not me next year?".
Then there’s the women. Kristen Faulkner @FaulknerKristen has already given American cycling some enormous moments. And while 2026 hasn’t brought the same volume of elite-level success, the pipeline certainly isn’t empty. Katherine Sarkisov finished 7th in the U23 Worlds. Sophia Wellmeier finished 10th in the Junior Worlds.
So maybe Velo is onto something. Maybe this really is a special period for American cycling. Or maybe I’m just new enough to the sport that everything feels like a big deal😂 Either way, I keep coming back to the same question:
What do we do with it?
Because if American cycling really is having a moment, I don’t think the answer is simply celebrating the results on X. We have to show up. Which is why I keep coming back to the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.
Imagine next year. Brandon McNulty showing up in Philadelphia in the rainbow jersey. I have absolutely no idea if UAE would allow that to happen (probably not) or if he'd even want to go, but if he can dream about a World Championship I can dream about him being at the race. And then look at the potential American contingent if he brought some of his friends!
Maybe this is the moment to start turning American success into American interest. Not because cycling is suddenly going to become the NFL. I'm a "fanatic" but I'm not crazy lol. But has there ever been a bigger group of Americans giving people a reason to watch?
Do you think American cycling is actually in a golden generation right now? Or does it just feel that way because I picked a hell of a time to start watching?
And maybe more importantly:
If the Philadelphia Cycling Classic is back next year, would you consider going? I’d genuinely love to know.
Because if we’re going to capitalize on this moment, maybe it’s time for American cycling fans to start showing up, too.
#Montreal2026 #PhiladelphiaCyclingClassic #USACycling
I'm sure anyone who follows me has already seen this post, but just in case. 🇺🇸🦅of Durango 🫶
A day in the life with Sepp is now streaming on YouTube! Away from the race and surrounded by the people who matter most! 🥰
Watch here: youtu.be/uW9_aFOTwzw
🇺🇸⛰️ American VÉLO D'OR: BEST CLIMBER (M)
We're at the peak (hump day!) of the week and today we're looking at two Americans who spent a good part of 2026 going uphill. But which one deserves the title of America's Best Climber?
⛰️ Sepp Kuss @vismaleaseabike
The Grand Tour veteran had quite a year in the mountains.
• Won Stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, claiming his first-ever Giro stage victory after spending much of the race working for Jonas Vingegaard
• Came agonizingly close to winning Stage 20 of the Tour de France. He was solo off the Col de Sarenne before two crashes on the descent cost him the victory
• Finished 4th on the Alpe d'Huez stage
• Completed all 3 Grand Tours in 2026, finishing 13th at both the Giro and Tour before climbing to 5th at the Vuelta. He was the ONLY rider to finish all three Grand Tours this season
⛰️ AJ August (soon to be with @Pinarello_Q36_5 )
At just 20 years old, August put together a breakthrough season that included five victories. And several of those came when the road pointed up.
• Won Stage 3 of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
• Won the final stage of Itzulia Basque Country after attacking on the final climb and riding solo to victory
• Won back-to-back summit finishes on Stages 2 and 3 of the Czech Tour
• Went on to win the overall Czech Tour, along with the points and young rider classifications
• Finished sixth overall at the Tour of Austria
Kuss has the Grand Tour pedigree, the biggest individual climbing performances and the experience of being one of the best climbing domestiques in the sport. He's also one of those riders who has built a genuine connection with cycling fans. August has the breakout season, the summit-finish victories and a stage-race overall win at just 20 years old.
Full disclosure: I suspect Sepp might be the favorite here. He's got the results, the Grand Tour pedigree, and let's face it, a pretty sizable fan club.
But AJ has had a remarkable season of his own. Let's give the young guy a chance to make some noise!
Who's your pick for America's Best Climber of 2026?
🇺🇸🐺
#velodor
Vote here! teapaw.org/CyclingWerewolf/status…
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My answer would be: Tadej Pogačar and his 189 distinctive jerseys at the Tour de France. For context:
🥈 Peter Sagan – 148
🥉 Eddy Merckx – 145
4️⃣ Bernard Hinault – 130
We're talking about Merckx and Hinault here. Two absolute legends of the sport. And Pogačar is 41 ahead of second place Sagan with many more likely to come. I don't know what the final number will be, but even with Seixas coming on the scene so young I don't think he catches up.
What would be your cycling stat for this question?
How can you not love Sepp 🫶
🐺 Tuesday Howl #30: More Than My 2 Cents 🪙
I spend a fair amount of time trying to come up with my own thoughts, opinions and observations about American cycling and the pro cycling world in general. I enjoy doing that, especially when people engage!
But sometimes I think one of the better things I can do with this little corner of cycling X is simply help share good work from other people.
I'm not exactly a major media outlet (shocking, I know), and I'm under no illusion that I have some massive megaphone. But I do think there's value in getting good stories in front of a few more people.
So this week, rather than giving you more of my own 2 cents, here are 3 things I've come across recently that I think are worth your time.
1. Building Something New: Modern Adventure ⛰️
Daniel Benson @dnlbenson takes a look at George Hincapie's thinking behind Modern Adventure's @maprocycling latest signings, the importance of team culture, and where he sees the project going in 2027 and beyond. It's an interesting look at what building a new American team actually involves.
🔗 Read the interview here: teapaw.org/dnlbenson/status/21180…
2. World Champ Homecoming: Brandon McNulty 🌈
Velo highlights McNulty's upcoming appearance at the Tour de Tucson @tourdetucson . A newly crowned world champion racing on American soil is worth paying attention to! It's also a nice reminder that we have some pretty exciting American riders out there, and opportunities to see them race at home shouldn't be overlooked.
🔗 Read the story at Velo: teapaw.org/velovelovelo__/status/…
3. Looking Ahead: Larry Warbasse 👀
Domestique caught up with one of my favorite American veterans, Larry Warbasse, to discuss McNulty's rainbow jersey and the future of American cycling. I always enjoy hearing from riders who have been around the sport for a while and have a little perspective on where things have been and where they might be going.
🔗 Read the interview at Domestique: teapaw.org/Domestique___/status/2…
Three different stories, three different perspectives, and all worth a few minutes of your time.
I want this account to be about more than just my own opinions amd to help shine a little light on the people, teams, riders and stories that make American cycling interesting.
If you've come across something good lately, feel free to send it my way. There's plenty happening out there, and I certainly don't catch it all. Sometimes it's better to pass the mic! 🇺🇸🐺
'It's gigantic' - 🇺🇸 Warbasse on 🇺🇸 McNulty's rainbow and the future of US cycling
INTERVIEW
📰 domestiquecycling.com/en/new…
📸 Cor Vos
He's on a roll! @dnlbenson had another McNulty item out today as well. teapaw.org/dnlbenson/status/21201…
McNulty targets Tour de France return as UAE weighs up world champion's role 🌈
Richard Plugge steps aside as Oliver Ciesla takes the reins at Collective Cycling Group. Could an outsider finally give cycling's reform project the direction it needs?
dnlbenson.substack.com/p/mcn…
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🇺🇸🏆 American Vélo d'Or 2026: Best Sprinter (W)
I was a little surprised (and very thankful!) to see 34 people cast votes for America's Best Male Sprinter. That's a pretty good start for this little project, so let's see if we can keep it going with the women!
This time we're recognizing two Americans who had very different, but equally impressive, 2026 campaigns.
🇺🇸 Lily Williams @hphcycling
2nd – Giro d'Italia Women, Stage 3
2nd – Tour de Suisse Women, Stage 3
4th – GP Lucien Van Impe
5th – Antwerp Port Epic Ladies
10th – Giro d'Italia Women, Points Classification
🇺🇸 Skylar Schneider @l39ionla
1st – American Criterium Cup, Tulsa Tough
1st – American Criterium Cup, Boise Twilight Criterium
1st – American Criterium Cup, Chicago GRIT
2nd – American Criterium Cup, Tour of America's Dairyland
1st Overall – American Criterium Cup
1st – Gateway Cup Women's Omnium
These are obviously two very different levels of competition, and I'm not suggesting they're directly comparable. Williams delivered against international competition in Europe, while Schneider dominated the American criterium scene.
But I also think the sheer magnitude of Schneider's success deserves real consideration. Winning three rounds and the overall American Criterium Cup is no small accomplishment.
That's part of what makes these votes interesting. There isn't necessarily one right way to measure a season.
🌎 Cycling fans everywhere are welcome to vote!
🐺 Who is America's Best Female Sprinter of 2026?
#watchthefemmes
Here's the voting post: teapaw.org/CyclingWerewolf/status…
Who was America's Best Female Sprinter in 2026?
21%Skylar Schneider
79%Lily Williams
14 votes • Final results 1
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Looking like Lamperti has this locked up unless a few of you out there make a run for Riley. To which hey @Riley_Sheehan_ and @luke_lamperti you can vote too if you want 😂
23 votes is 22 more than I expected! You still have today to vote if interested and then a new category will be up tomorrow.
Thanks to everyone who participates in my little attempt at some fun on here! 🫶
Who was America's Best Male Sprinter in 2026?
69%Luke Lamperti
31%Riley Sheehan
35 votes • Final results 4
276
