Niewiadoma praises husband Taylor Phinney, for coming out of retirement to compete at Track World Championships: 'Drive I hadn't seen in a long time'

Taylor Phinney will be competing at the Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai from October 14 - October 18. The 36-year-old American hung up his bike at the end of 2019, but by the end of 2025, he and his wife, Kasia Niewiadoma, realised the itch to race was starting to return. After an impressive comeback, Phinney is back in action this month at the Track World Championships.

Phinney can look back on a successful career on the road and on the track. He got his start on the road with Trek, but spent most of his career riding for BMC. He achieved notable successes, particularly in time trials, including at the Giro d'Italia and the U.S. National Championships. He also won the 2014 Dubai Tour, thanks to a time trial victory on Day 1.

Phinney competed in five Grand Tours: the Giro d'Italia twice, the Tour de France twice, and the Vuelta a España once. In his last three seasons, he rode for Cannondale (now EF Education-EasyPost), but after 2019, he decided to retire.

This decision was driven by physical and mental health issues following a serious crash in 2014.

As one of America’s greatest talents, Phinney crashed during the 2014 U.S. Road Championships. In the crash, he suffered fractures to his tibia and fibula.

Since then, Phinney has had to live with chronic pain and lost his passion for cycling. After retiring from the sport at just 29 years old, he turned his attention to painting and music. In 2024, he married Niewiadoma.

The crash on the road brought an early end to Phinney’s track career, which had also been extremely successful. As a junior, he won major titles, and he continued to fill his trophy case in the elite men’s category as well.

For example, he won gold in the Individual Pursuit at the World Championships in 2009 and 2010. It is the track that he is returning to this month—the very place where it actually all began.

Niewiadoma is as proud as punch about her husband’s comeback. The Polish superstar, officially known as Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney since 2024, wrote on her social media accounts on Tuesday: “This time last year, Taylor and I were joking about him having to make a comeback. Shortly after, the joke turned into an exciting idea, and that aspiration became a daily goal.”

"His passion got him out of bed, with a drive I hadn't seen in a long time. Enjoyable bike rides sparked dedication and professionalism, which pushed both of us to a higher level.

"And now Taylor is flying to China for the World Championships, where he will compete in the Team Pursuit and Individual Pursuit,” said Niewiadoma.

"I can't put into words how proud I am of the dedication and hard work Tay has put in over the past twelve months. Life doesn't have to be defined by past paths or by familiar ways of doing things. Life is meant to be embraced fully and to listen to what our hearts and souls tell us to do."

Phinney's ultimate goal is the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.