USA Cycling boss wants the Tour of California back after McNulty's world title: 'One thing we're missing'

"That's probably the one thing we're missing," Putt said in an interview with Bici.Pro, when asked about bringing WorldTour racing back to American roads.

"We used to have the Tour of California, and many of the riders achieving great results today were inspired by that event. We're missing that major event that can inspire people. Perhaps the Tour of California could return, or we could have something like the Tour de Georgia."

Last month in Montréal, Brandon McNulty became the first American in 33 years to win the elite men's world road race title.

Quinn Simmons placed fourth and Matteo Jorgenson eighth, a team result that showed how far the US squad has come against the sport's traditional European powers.

At home, however, the top level of racing has been absent for years.

The Tour of California, which entered the WorldTour in 2017, was the last men's race at that level held in the United States. Its final edition in 2019 was won overall by a 20-year-old Tadej Pogacar, riding for UAE Team Emirates. Financial difficulties led to the race being suspended ahead of the 2020 season, and it has not been seen since.

There is some movement further down the ladder. The Tour of Battenkill returns in 2027 and the Armed Forces Capitol Cup joins the calendar, both as UCI 1.2 races. But neither race carries the clout on the world stage that Putt is looking for.

For Putt, the case for a big race is about reach rather than prestige. "Having a race pass through your hometown allows you to reach far more potential young cyclists," he said.

"There are so many races in Europe, whereas the United States is an enormous country. That makes it difficult for people to get involved in cycling, particularly because we don't have enough professional races."

Putt came through USA Cycling's development system himself before taking over as Road Director in 2023.

The generation he now oversees, from McNulty, Simmons and Jorgenson to Vuelta winner Sepp Kuss and Paris 2024 Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner, largely made its name racing in Europe.

Those home-grown stars racing on American roads, in front of excited American fans, is the next step for American cycling.