The UCI World Road Championships in Glasgow look exceptionally competitive this year, with plenty of big names vying for a chance to wear the rainbow stripes in 2024. The rolling Glasgow course features no significant hills, opening up opportunities for many different riders to go for the win as well as some team tactics.
In the men’s elite race on Sunday, August 6, the U.S. brings a seven-rider squad, headlined by Neilson Powless. Powless has shown good form in the one-day races this spring, with a fifth place finish at the Tour of Flanders and seventh at Milan San Remo. More recently, Powless finished fourth at the Clasica San Sebastian and enjoyed a significant stint in the Polka Dot jersey at the Tour de France. The California-native finished in a career-best fifth place at the 2021 World Championships in Belgium, ahead of stars like Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel. Powless looks to be Team USA’s best shot at landing on the podium in the road race. With Powless’ EF Education-EasyPost teammate Sean Quinn there to help and the rest of a solid roster, we could undoubtedly see the USA fighting for a top spot there.
In the men’s elite time trial, the U.S. national TT champion, Brandon McNulty, will compete with previous national champion Lawson Craddock. McNulty has shown himself as a critical domestique on the UAE team this year and has the strength to put down a good time. McNulty landed on the podium at the 2019 U23 World Championship in Harrogate, and he sure would love to return to that podium as an elite rider as well.
team, the U.S. brings two standout hopes for a medal in Chloé Dygert (Canyom-SRAM) and Coryn Labecki (Jumbo-Visma).
In addition to a full track racing schedule, where she has already won a title in the Individual Pursuit, Dygert will be racing both the time trial and the road race. Dygert won the time trial in 2019 but since then has been dealing with several severe injuries. The 2023 season has been an incredible comeback season already and the 26-year-old looks to be back in form. Despite her absence these past few season, Dygert will be a force to be reckoned with as she searches to retake the rainbow stripes.
Dygert will be joined by former world tome trial champion, Amber Neben. The 48-year-old free agent is the current Pan-American champion and has finished in the top five multiple times at the World Championship. Thus, she can never be discounted.
If the road race comes down to a sprint, Labecki will be one to watch, though Dygert is certainly no slouch in a fast finish either. Labecki is the current U.S. national criterium champion and with two 10th-place finishes at her last two world championship races, Labecki will undoubtedly be hungry for more.
The Glasgow course provides plenty of opportunities for team tactics, and the U.S. brings quite a dynamic team with several cards to play. In addition to the Labecki and Dygertm experienced riders like Lauren Stephens, Skyler Schneider, Heidi Franz and youngser Megan Jastrab are there to support.
Source : Cycling Weekly
