"I prefer to see Pogacar win than Vingegaard": American double Olympic gold medalist Jordan Stolz opens up about his love for cycling

Jordan Stolz is currently the undisputed star of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The 21-year-old American has dominated the speed skating events, winning gold in the 500 meters on Saturday to add to his earlier victory in the 1000 meters. However, while he is rewriting history on the ice, Stolz has revealed that he spends a significant amount of his time training on a bike and dreams of a future in professional cycling.

Stolz is not just a casual fan, he calls himself a "bike fanatic." In an interview with Knack, he explained that he follows the sport closely and has a clear favorite in the peloton: Tadej Pogacar.

"I find his way of cycling beautiful, it is always spectacular with him and he attacks a lot," Stolz said of Tadej Pogacar. "I prefer to see him win than Jonas Vingegaard."

Today, cycling is an essential pillar of his physiology. He usually trains alone or with local athletes, combining brutal sprint intervals with massive endurance days.

"Someone recommended it as a summer workout," Stolz recalled regarding his start at age twelve or thirteen. "I bought a bike, and two years later I was already competing."

"My longest ride last summer was six and a half hours, with about 4,000 meters of elevation gain in the mountains around Park City, Utah," he revealed. His dedication has even taken him to the legendary training grounds of the WorldTour peloton. "In Europe, I've already held training camps in Livigno and Tenerife, with climbs like the Stelvio and Teide."

Speed skating requires explosive power, while cycling often requires long endurance. Stolz believes he can balance both without losing his speed on the ice. "I can train my endurance perfectly and still remain explosive," he stated. "As the skating season approaches, I'll reduce those longer cycling workouts."

This combination of power and endurance has led him to compare himself with Pogacar. While he knows he cannot match the Slovenian on the climbs yet, he is confident in his raw speed.

"I don't come close to his wattages in Zone 2," Stolz admitted. However, he was quick to point out where his skating background gives him an edge. "But if we were to sprint against each other, it is a completely different story."