In its statement, the
MPCC made clear that Hincapie’s own history, along with that of sporting director
Bobby Julich, was central to its deliberations. While acknowledging that the anti-doping violations admitted by both men date back more than a decade, the board stated that those events remain relevant given cycling’s history and the ongoing need to rebuild trust in the sport. As a result, the application was subject to additional due diligence.
As part of that process, team owner
George Hincapie explained his reasoning for seeking
MPCC membership. “Joining the MPCC is important to me because it’s about more than just our team – it’s about the future of cycling,” Hincapie said. “The sport has been damaged by doping, and we have an opportunity to be part of rebuilding that trust. I witnessed firsthand the cultural shift in the sport many years ago, and I’ve seen both the damage that comes from turning a blind eye and the progress that’s possible when athletes choose integrity.
“By committing to the
MPCC’s enhanced transparency standards, we’re proving that clean athletes can compete at the highest level and that credibility matters more than shortcuts. I want our team to stand for integrity and show the next generation of cyclists – one of whom happens to be my son – that there’s a better way forward for this sport we love.”
Provisional membership and ongoing oversight
Team general manager Rich Hincapie also underlined the team’s commitment to operating within the
MPCC framework, describing membership as an opportunity to contribute positively to the sport’s future and to uphold higher ethical standards through transparency and accountability.
Following the discussion, the
MPCC board confirmed that Modern Adventure have been accepted on a probationary basis, as is standard for new member teams. The organisation added that it will monitor the team’s conduct with particular attention to ensure its commitments are upheld in practice.
Early results give context to the commitment
The timing of the announcement is notable. Modern Adventure have not applied to the
MPCC as a concept or a promise, but as an active team already competing on the road. Their first race at the AlUla Tour produced an immediate impact, including a podium finish on the final stage and a strong general classification result, offering early evidence that the project is competitive as well as ambitious.
That sporting momentum has already been followed by
confirmation of the team’s first WorldTour invitation at the Volta a Catalunya, where they are set to line up against Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel. It places Modern Adventure firmly in the spotlight, both competitively and reputationally, at a very early stage of their existence.
Ethics placed alongside performance
Against that backdrop, the decision to place the team within a voluntary anti-doping framework that goes beyond minimum regulatory requirements takes on added weight. The
MPCC has long positioned itself as a mechanism for teams willing to submit to stricter standards in the name of credibility, rather than simple compliance.
For Hincapie and Modern Adventure, provisional
MPCC membership does not close the conversation around cycling’s past. If anything, it formalises it. The team now enters its first full season under enhanced scrutiny, with early performances already drawing attention and bigger stages still to come.
Whether trust can be rebuilt is not something any single team or statement can decide. But with results already on the board and WorldTour exposure approaching fast, Modern Adventure have chosen to place that question at the centre of their project rather than attempt to avoid it.