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USA Pro Cycling Challenge - Discussion
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| Ulrich Ulriksen |
Posted on 20-02-2026 01:35
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Directeur Sportif
Posts: 4034
Joined: 02-11-2010
PCM$: 300.00
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 USA Pro Cycling Challenge
2025 marks the second year of the 3rd age of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. Last year the race organizers moved the race to Western NY State and re-imagined it as a 3-stage contest for the punchy riders. Andrea Bagioli was the first winner under the new format and he did it in style, winning all 3 stages. This year’s race follows the same parcours. Last year it was contested by traditional puncheurs as it proved too hard for punchy sprinters, we will see if that continues.
While the other US stage race this month in California has always been a big target for US riders the opposite is true for this race. In the 12 editions only one US rider has won - Dan Holloway in 2019. The only other US rider to finish on the podium was Thomas Peterson back in 2012.
With the US peloton lacking top puncheurs that seems unlikely to change this year. Instead, the favorites come from this list:
| Rider | MM | HI | SP | AC | RS | ST |  Lutsenko | 77 | 82 | 71 | 80 | 72 | 75 |  Stannard | 77 | 81 | 69 | 78 | 76 | 75 |  Eiking | 75 | 81 | 68 | 76 | 74 | 78 |  Hirschi | 79 | 81 | 66 | 75 | 78 | 78 |  Gesbert | 77 | 80 | 68 | 73 | 78 | 80 |  Moscon | 77 | 80 | 60 | 73 | 77 | 76 |  Vakoc | 75 | 80 | 70 | 73 | 70 | 74 |  Van Niekerk | 78 | 80 | 64 | 74 | 75 | 72 |  Ardila | 81 | 80 | 62 | 75 | 70 | 69 |  Sagan | 75 | 79 | 69 | 70 | 68 | 72 |  Tesfatsion | 77 | 78 | 69 | 78 | 72 | 68 |  Stocek | 73 | 78 | 70 | 75 | 70 | 75 |  Lagane | 74 | 78 | 76 | 77 | 71 | 70 |  Govekar | 75 | 78 | 70 | 78 | 75 | 73 |  Van der Poel | 74 | 77 | 72 | 77 | 77 | 78 | | Amezawa | 79 | 77 | 68 | 75 | 78 | 76 |  Meintjes | 78 | 77 | 60 | 68 | 75 | 76 |  Bettiol | 74 | 77 | 71 | 77 | 75 | 78 | | Lyu | 76 | 77 | 63 | 74 | 76 | 75 |  Paret-Peintre | 77 | 77 | 72 | 74 | 75 | 73 |
Last year’s 2nd and 3rd are back in Stannard and Hirschi but they probably aren’t the favorites, instead that honor goes to Lutsenko who has a great skill set for this race. Another strong candidate is Gesbert, who can do no wrong this year, he isn’t the fastest finisher but that hasn’t hampered him so far.
If climbing skills are important then last year’s 4th place, Van Niekerk could be a contender. Other strong climbers include Ardila, Amezawa and Meintjes.
The top punchy sprinter in the race is Lagane, he was a disappointing 20th last year but will hope for better this time around. Three other riders who did make the top ten last year are also back, Tesfatsion (6th), Paret-Peintre (7th) and Sagan (9th).
24 teams and 188 riders take the start, 9 of the team are from the CT.
Startlist
 
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling |
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| quadsas |
Posted on 20-02-2026 02:30
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 2771
Joined: 18-01-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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Lutsenko revenge race
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| kandesbunzler26 |
Posted on 20-02-2026 07:03
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Sprinter
Posts: 1961
Joined: 07-07-2013
PCM$: 300.00
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Thanks for the preview (and the coverage as well), Ulrich!
Our goal is another GC top 10 with APP and maybe some stage points on top.
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 20-02-2026 07:18
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7852
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Van Niekerk is back after a short hiatus, let's get right back into action
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 21-02-2026 22:08
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| hillis91 |
Posted on 21-02-2026 08:58
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Team Leader
Posts: 5960
Joined: 30-11-2006
PCM$: 2300.00
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Great start, let's build on this momentum 
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| Laurens147 |
Posted on 21-02-2026 09:22
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Sprinter
Posts: 1583
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Again all hopes on the duo Min-Vakoc. Top-10 should be a reasonable goal.
Thanks UU for the preview!
MG - Lotto - Caloi
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| Marcovdw |
Posted on 21-02-2026 09:52
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7852
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In a race with big bonus seconds, finishing outside the top ten is not the best way to start, let alone playing leadout for everyone else
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| whitejersey |
Posted on 21-02-2026 10:13
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3298
Joined: 07-08-2011
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Missed the preview going up for this! Seems like Quita's on good form with a fifth on the first stage, hopefully he can keep that up and stick around the top end of the GC! Thanks for the report!
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| jph27 |
Posted on 21-02-2026 10:22
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Team Leader
Posts: 7408
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Suspect this will be another poor hilly race for us, as vdP is too far down the favourites list to be well positioned for the final sprint and make use of his SP and ACC - just have to try and minimise our losses to the other teams in the promotion mix. |
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| Booker |
Posted on 21-02-2026 10:26
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1059
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Wtf happened here?! Entire team finished nearly 3 minutes behind, despite having domestiques and 2 different hilly leaders. Race effectively over 
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| Imladrik |
Posted on 21-02-2026 11:04
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1176
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Stocek was close to the front at one point, but then disappeared. Guess he was a bit too alone, though Dieteren should have been able to stay with him.
Congrats to Gjensidige, thanks for the report Ulrich
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
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| jt1109 |
Posted on 21-02-2026 14:42
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3549
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Solid start by the team here to keep in the first group
Not confident of any major result as looks way too hard a startlist for us but just near top 15 |
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| sammyt93 |
Posted on 21-02-2026 20:02
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3839
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I think that was Hirschi's best performance of the whole season and not having the leaders jersey should be a good thing for us as it's been proven plenty of times this season we don't have a deep enough squad to be constantly chasing
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