Analysis - How can the United States of America win the 2026 Montréal World Championships

The United States of America will be racing close to home during the 2026 cycling World Championships in Montréal. The centerpiece of the event, the men's elite road race, will be quite open after the withdrawal of Tadej Pogacar. Can any of America's riders turn the stars and stripes into a rainbow jersey?

The North American nation has managed to go into the race already with a strong starting situation. That is due to the team's position in the UCI rankings, which has allowed it to select eight riders into the men's elite road race. With expectations of a tactical competition, this could benefit greatly those with strength in depth.

The initial lineup selection consisted of Quinn Simmons, Matteo Jorgenson, Brandon McNulty, Neilson Powless, Sean Quinn, Artem Shmidt, Kevin Vermaerke and Larry Warbasse. The eight-rider selection suffered one change, as Neilson Powless has fallen ill and has been replaced with NSN's Riley Sheehan.

The eight-rider selection is strong, featuring climbers, classics specialists, young figures and also experienced riders when it comes to the chaotic international events. The World Championships, unlike most road cycling events, do not allow for race radios, which significantly changes the dynamics specially in hilly circuits such as this.

In total, all of the USA's riders have a combined 16 presences at the world's, a small number in the bigger picture specially when comparing to teams of the same size. The likes of Michal Matthews, Bauke Mollema and Nelson Oliveira have either 12 participations or above; and most major teams will at least have one rider with at least half a dozen participations.

Experience won't be the USA's forte, but it does have the riders to match the power of the European teams that are taking up the spotlight ahead of the race.

Upon the selection, one of its members was not happy. Riley Sheehan notably criticized his absence from the lineup on a social media post, having said 'let's not select the guys who've been winning races'. The Circuit de Wallonie winner had also recently won the Czech Tour's opening stage and was notably well suited to the hilly explosive races, and would've been a fitting card to begin with. Powless' illness saw him - the first reserve - enter the lineup. Sheehan was also 14th at the GP de Montréal, which acted as a warm-up for the worlds.

The lineup consists of two riders that should have the role of domestique: Artem Shmidt of Netcompany INEOS; and Larry Warbasse of Tudor Pro Cycling Team - the youngest and oldest of the team, 22 and 36 respectively.

All six others should have a free role, working as domestiques only if the situation requires that to be. The USA have a team with depth, which must be used when it comes to attacking - or counter-attacking from early on. Sean Quinn, who was under the spotlight during the Tour de France's opening week; Riley Sheehan and UAE's Kevin Vermaerke are likely to be deployed to be part of early attacks.

Three leaders which should be saved from all-out efforts with 150-100 kilometers to go, and three classics specialists who should be very active at this phase of the race. Having them ahead of the peloton would mean the USA would be absolved from having to chase, whilst they would better be able to anticipate the attacks of riders such as Remco Evenepoel who might want to take his rivals by surprise early on.

The main favourites for the race will be the likes of Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro and Paul Seixas. All three riders have proven to be able to make the difference on climbs with the distance of Mount Royal - 1.6Km at 7.7% - when raced in quick succession. The circuit in Montréal, besides its main climb, features several small ascents. The riders will go through them on 12 occasions, following 100 kilometers of flat roads to begin with.

Hence, a race where the endurance factor will be crucial, and where the climbs will give way to make a bigger difference if compared to a singular effort on the ascent to Mount Royal. Quinn Simmons, Brandon McNulty and Matteo Jorgenson will be the USA's leaders.

Jorgenson might sit slightly below after placing 19th at the GP de Montréal, whereas McNulty and Simmons were third and fourth. But at his best level, the Visma rider sits on the same level as his compatriots, and the world championships are a special race.

All three riders will not be able to make the difference to the likes of Seixas and del Toro - others could be named of course, such as Tom Pidcock, Ben Healy, Evenepoel himself... - and relying on a sprint is neither a safe, nor a strong tactic. Del Toro, Evenepoel and Pidcock are proven great sprinters in such an uphill rise to the line; whilst Paul Seixas is no slouch either. Neither McNulty or Simmons would on paper have the best of them.

On the opposite, it is likely that these riders will get dropped if they enter direct confrontation with their - on paper - stronger rivals. All three will have to anticipate, likely outside the major climb as following attacks there will be easier for their main rivals. The USA is likely to aim to try and be in the breakaway with either Shmidt or Warbasse; mark early attacks with Quinn, Sheehan and Vermaerke; whilst the big three leaders would ideally come to the front in the final two hours of the race - 80 kilometers to go.

Simmons and McNulty are the two main men to keep an eye on, taking into consideration the form they've shown in Canada, their ability not only to climb but above all to ride well on the flat and downhill sections of the course; but simply because their names don't carry the same weight as an Evenepoel, Wout Van Aert, or Mathieu van der Poel who will take up much of the spotlight. Hence, they have an opportunity to anticipate their rivals.

Free from the clutches of UAE, McNulty has a unique shot at capturing the rainbow jersey in a circuit which he won back in 2025 - and might find allies in his UAE trade teammates; whilst Simmons is a rider that frequently capitalizes on the hard races where endurance and repeated efforts are a key aspect.

The American champion finished fourth at Il Lombardia last year after having been in the breakaway of the day, perfectly executing a tactic of anticipation, in a course that was only fitting to the climbers. Both riders have proven over 2025 and 2026 to be a literal perfect fit to the circuit in Montréal, and they may be amongst the most dangerous riders to take a victory at the World Championships.