USA cycling gets another boost as UCI race returns, but Quinn Simmons wants more: 'Beautiful but unforgiving roads'
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Follow us on GoogleThe United States are home to the newest men's World Champion, Brandon McNulty. And the country's cycling is set to get another boost as the Battenkill road race makes a return to the UCI calendar after 13 years. The race will run on May 22, 2027, as a UCI 1.2-ranked men's race. Will it be enough to appease Quinn Simmons?
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New York's answer to the Belgian classics
The race, which was formerly known as the Tour of Battenkill, started in 2005 in Washington County, New York. It features a tough hilly course with dirt and gravel sections.
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For this reason, the race has been compared to the Belgian classics, as tactics and punchy endurance are the keys to success.
Event director Dieter Drake explained, ""Battenkill was built around hard, unpredictable racing on beautiful but unforgiving roads."
"There isn't one climb where you can say the race will be decided, Drake told Cyclingnews. "Riders are constantly being asked to make decisions - where to position themselves, when to spend energy, how aggressively to ride the dirt and when to attack. That has always been the essence of Battenkill."
Read more below the photo!
Quinn Simmons wants more U.S races
American Lidl-Trek rider Quinn Simmons has been vocal in the past about wanting more races in America, even going as far as to propose "getting rid of Guangxi".
"The entire peloton wants to do Tour California again, wants to do Utah,” Simmons said to domestique. “All the riders, we wanna be here racing."
However, the outspoken American admitted that economics were at play, and that a large stage race for high-level WorldTour riders was currently unlikely.
Read more below the photo!
American Quinn Simmons has been vocal about wanting more home races
Another boost for pro cycling in the States
Battenkill is the latest in a string of developments that sees UCI racing take more of a foothold in America. The Philadelphia Cycling Classic was also approved for return to the UCI calendar.
The mens and women's road races is 1.1 ranked, and hadn't taken place for 10 years.Other U.S based events in the 2027 UCI calendar are the Armed Forces Cycling Classic Capitol Cup- also a men's 1.2 race- and the Tour of the Gila.
The Tour of the Gila has both a men's and women's edition and is ranked 2.2.
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Clarice WebsterEditor
Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.
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Latest Comments
- - ¡Qué ilusión para el ciclismo español! If Noval can combine climbing, time trialling and that mental strength, Spain may have another superstar on its hands.davidm08-10-2026
- - I’m still learning the sport—how can someone be the second-youngest WorldTour pro ever if his contract starts in 2027? Does that record depend on his exact birthday and debut date?pedalpowe2908-10-2026
- - “Once-in-a-generation talent” is a huge claim. What power numbers did Noval actually produce in Asturias, and how do they compare with riders of the same age?jeremya08-10-2026
- - The Contador comparisons are exciting, but also a bit premature. Time-trial ability is a major advantage, though the jump from juniors to the WorldTour can be brutal. Hopefully INEOS gives him time to develop rather than expecting instant results.patriciaw08-10-2026
- - Noval’s junior season has been absolutely ridiculous. Winning both world titles and the European time trial title suggests he isn’t just a climber—his versatility could be what separates him from the other big prospects.gearguru3308-10-2026
- Great drama, but the article leans a little too hard into the “what if” angle. Evenepoel still had to recover from a crash and finish the job—credit where it’s due.robert6507-10-2026
- What exactly is a pacer in this situation, and why was Ciccone listening to that information instead of just watching the race? I’m still learning the tactics, but it seems like Scaroni being behind changed everything.andrewf07-10-2026
- The photo finish sounds far too vulnerable to tiny setup errors. If the line is curved and the camera alignment is even slightly off, can we really call a one-pixel victory completely definitive?jennifer1907-10-2026
- Ciccone’s final turn was excellent, but I agree with Zonneveld that he probably worked too much before the finish. With Scaroni behind, sitting on Remco’s wheel would have been the smarter gamble.bikebuffj07-10-2026
- Evenepoel showed serious resilience after that crash. Coming back, attacking on the descent and still winning the sprint is a proper champion’s performance.cadencekingm07-10-2026
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