Team USA World Cycling Championships selection sparks criticism: 'Let’s not pick the guys who’ve won races'

The United States has finalized its roster for the 2026 World Cycling Championships, but not everyone agrees with the selection. The U.S. Cycling Federation has decided not to include several riders who have enjoyed repeated success at the highest level this season.

National champion Quinn Simmons is highlighted on the federation’s website as the team’s leader. The Lidl-Trek rider finished third last season in the GP Montreal, the Canadian city on his own continent where the World Championships are now being held.

Joining him is last year’s winner of the WorldTour classic, Brandon McNulty. The sprinter will also compete in the time trial, as will Netcompany INEOS rider Artem Schmidt.

In addition, Matteo Jorgenson and Neilson Powless, with their classic skills, should also be considered capable of reaching the final. Kevin Vermaerke, Larry Warbasse, and Sean Quinn round out the American team.

Of course, some riders have been left out, including NSN rider Riley Sheehan. He expressed his dissatisfaction on X. “Let’s not pick the guys who’ve won races…,” he said cynically. Among other victories this year, Sheehan won the Tour of Wallonia and the opening stage of the Tour of the Czech Republic.

Top talent AJ August (this year’s stage winner in the Basque Country, Valencia, and the Czech Republic) is also missing from the lineup, along with climbers Sepp Kuss and Matthew Riccittello. That said, the latter two have already completed the Tour-Vuelta double; in Kuss’s case, he’s even added the Giro to that.

AJ August is also currently riding the Vuelta a España for Netcompany INEOS, which may explain his exclusion from the Team USA squad. Sheehan, however is not racing the Vuelta for NSN Pro Cycling, so there must be another reason for his being dropped from the team.