“Our best shot at a win since Lance won in ’93”: Kevin Vermaerke sees rare opportunity for Team USA at Montréal Worlds

The absence of Tadej Pogacar has changed the equation at the World Championships, and Kevin Vermaerke believes it could give the United States its best opportunity in more than three decades to win the elite men’s road race. With an eight-rider squad packed with proven one-day racers, the American hopes the team can use its depth to put the traditionally stronger nations under pressure.

The United States has not won the elite men’s road race since Lance Armstrong’s controversial 1993 victory in Oslo. Since then, only six American riders have finished inside the top 10: Chann McRae twice, Chris Horner, Tyler Farrar, Neilson Powless and Quinn Simmons.

Powless finished 11th in 2023, while Simmons was ninth in 2024, underlining how difficult it has been for the US to challenge for the rainbow jersey.

Pogacar, the defending champion, will not be in Montréal after his Vuelta a España crash ended his season, removing the rider who would otherwise have been the clear benchmark. USA Cycling has selected Quinn Simmons, Matteo Jorgenson, Brandon McNulty, Neilson Powless, Sean Quinn, Kevin Vermaerke, Larry Warbasse and Artem Shmidt for the road race.

Vermaerke argued there is an opportunity to use eight riders with complementary strengths to make the race difficult for nations that may have to rely heavily on one leader.

“I think it gives the US probably our best shot at a win since Lance won in '93. I mean, we have eight guys that are all really strong, and all have a job to contribute,” Vermaerke told Cyclingnews.

He expects the absence of Pogacar to leave a small group of riders as the main individual favorites, but believes their teams could be vulnerable. “And you know, without Tadej, you have, let's say Isaac [Del Toro], Remco [Evenepoel], and [Paul] Seixas, and those three are a little bit better than everybody else.”

Vermaerke sees the team’s depth as its main weapon, particularly if the race becomes fragmented over the long Montréal course. “But Isaac doesn't have the most teammates there. Belgium has a super strong team, but I think it'll be on them to control the race,” he said. “I think for us, it'll be a case of maybe trying to get ahead of the race and then coming to a situation where we're in the last 50k and we have multiple riders.”

That could allow the Americans to force their rivals into a difficult tactical position. Belgium, for example, has Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert as its two major leaders, while Mexico relies heavily on Del Toro. The US, by contrast, can potentially have several riders present when the decisive selection forms.

“Whereas maybe some others will be isolated already. And I think all of us on the team are pretty used to these Monument-length 250km plus races, and that's something that suits us really well.”

Vermaerke himself could become an important part of that strategy. His Vuelta campaign has offered encouraging signs as he prepares for his first elite World Championships with the US team.

The American said his condition is improving as the Grand Tour progresses. “The takeaway is that my legs seem to be getting better every day, so I'm taking confidence from that, and I think every day you're in front of the race, you kind of just build that confidence that you can be there the next day and deserve to be there. So I think it's all trending in the right direction,” he said.

That is significant given his experience of Grand Tours, as he believes he has usually reached his strongest level during the final week. “This is my fifth Grand Tour, and historically, I've always gotten better into the third week.”

“Then the key is just to recover enough when you get home, and it'll be nice to go back to the U.S. to see some friends and family, and I'll be home for two weeks before Worlds. I think I'll just relax, enjoy, soak up the Vuelta, and I think I'm gonna have really good legs coming out of this race if I can stay healthy and safe. That's the goal.”