Jorgenson follows in Vingegaard's footsteps and confirms no World Championships participation

The World Championships in Rwanda later this season will be the last major objective of 2025 for Tadej Pogacar, who will line up in Kigali aiming to defend the rainbow jersey he won a year ago. The route is set to be one of the toughest in recent memory, but the field around him is beginning to thin. One by one, key rivals have confirmed they will not travel, and the latest to rule himself out is American rider Matteo Jorgenson.

The U.S. federation this week revealed its lineup for the Championships, which will be held in Africa for the first time in the event’s history. Alongside the announcement came confirmation that Jorgenson, of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, has opted not to start the elite men’s road race. After tackling both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España in the same summer, he has decided to end his season early after the Spanish grand tour. His choice mirrors that of Jonas Vingegaard, who had already drawn frustration and disappointment from fans by also skipping the Worlds, meaning the Danish star still has never made his debut at a cycling World Championships.

Jorgenson’s absence is notable beyond simple prestige. Over the past season, he has emerged as one of Pogacar’s more personal rivals. Their clashes during the Tour de France became a subplot of the race, with several moments where the Slovenian seemed to burn energy just to prevent Jorgenson from making breakaways. “Enmity” was how many described it at the time, as the tension between the two was visible both on the road and in their post-stage comments. The prospect of that rivalry continuing on Kigali’s brutal climbs had been enticing, but fans will now have to wait for another opportunity.

In his place, the U.S. team has called on Quinn Simmons, the Lidl–Trek rider who is enjoying one of the strongest seasons of his career. Charismatic and aggressive in his style, Simmons has been a frequent protagonist in breakaways throughout 2025. He first opened his account back in March, winning stage six of the Volta a Catalunya. In June, he claimed the U.S. national road championship before heading to the Tour de Suisse, where he managed to infiltrate four separate breakaways, converting one of them into a stage victory. Those exploits secured him selection for the Tour de France, where he again made his presence felt. Now, Simmons will shoulder the responsibility of leading the American squad in Kigali.

The final U.S. selection for Rwanda features a balanced mix of experience and talent. Alongside Simmons, the team includes Will Barta (Movistar), who will compete in both the road race and time trial, Luke Lamperti (Soudal Quick-Step), Magnus Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers), also selected for both disciplines, Kevin Vermaerke (Team Picnic PostNL), and Larry Warbasse (Tudor Pro Cycling). Together they will aim to deliver a competitive showing, even in the absence of Jorgenson.