"Back then I could already tell that the team was going to be a powerhouse" - Neilson Powless recollects time with Jumbo-Visma before rise of Jonas Vingegaard
Cycling
In 2018 and 2019 Neilson Powless raced with Jumbo-Visma, before it became a dominant team in the peloton. The American knew the potential of the team, but does not regret having moved away in search of more freedom and opportunities with EF Education-EasyPost. He also tells how he learnt a lot from teammate Rigoberto Urán.
"I learnt a lot from him. Every time we have gone to the Tour de France together, I was there to help him out. Last year was different circumstances of course, but for my first three Tour de France’s, I was going there in support of Rigoberto," Powless admits in an interview with Domestique. "He certainly taught me a lot about how to become a great leader and how to be someone that people want to hurt themselves for." Powless has talked about how now he becomes an experienced figure in the American team, and teaches young riders coming in - something valuable, from a rider who can perform on virtually every terrain.
The 27-year old has had a lot of success by himself, and he looks back at his first pro years with the Dutch team. "I was helping Primoz when he won the Vuelta. Back then I could already tell that the team was going to be a powerhouse eventually in the peloton. We had a lot of super strong guys and you could clearly see the direction the team was moving in. Unfortunately, with having those strong guys comes along limited chances for riders like me," he tells.
"I wouldn’t have had the success I have had at this point without the freedom EF has given to me. In terms of leaving Jumbo-Visma, I really wanted to see what I could do in the big races if I was given the chance. At the end of the day, I want to win races and to give that a shot, I’m really happy with how it’s going."
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- He is boring
leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
Dariusz08-11-2026 - Uwielbiam patrzeć, jak wyjeżdża na czoło peletonu i zaczyna się rzeź...Dariusz08-11-2026
- Yeah, unreal.
parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
- That is a very lazy way of putting it but so far on this website it seems like everyone is happy to look at everything lazily, even things that annoy them intensely. All they want to do is state their feeling and position but ask most to analyse a problem or come up with solutions or improvements and you’re stunned by silence. Nobody even really knows how this all happens. It’s very simple and quick to just say the UCI did it but I bet you they didn’t, I bet you not more than 2 people were involved, more likely just 1. The UCI may be ultimately responsible but it is not their decision, this is about hierarchy, power and delegation. The fact that protest is possible also means it isn’t over and that MORE people could get involved for a thorough review which could throw up anything. It is highly likely it was a sole commissar who decided and has that power in a first round. Therein might lie the problem the UCI has to consider, is it acceptable to give so much authority to one single person when it is quite possible for them to have a natural bias or be too easily susceptible to imposed bias. Who is to say an individual in this position isn’t susceptible to collaboration with outside players with interests in the results, nations, families, teams, betting companies, etc. On the one hand we have sports where these problems have been worked on way more to reduce such problems, on the other hand we have sports with far stricter and more draconian rules not even concerning safety or obstruction that nobody really questions like false starts or stepping out of lane or zones in athletics. If cycling hastowork on itself, it would be good if protagonists (all kinds) would start doing a little more than just moaning over outcomes.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- Yes, so why not make comments less pointless?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026 - There really was nothing in it. Schreiber was so much faster, and Brand was fighting to stay in the wheel in the sprint. Schreiber did move a bit, but to say she closed the door doesn't make sense because Brand couldn't enter it anyway, abd she wasn't impeded.Rafionain-Glas08-11-2026
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Bid on our 2023 Cannondale race bikes with @MatchWornShirt! We’re auctioning off Neilson Powless and Rigoberto Urán’s Cannondale SuperSix Evos, Ben Healy’s hand painted Giro d’Italia bike, and more. The auction is live through December 23 so get your bid in now! Bid here:
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