“We showed the world that we’re not just clowns”: USA's Modern Adventure sets sights on full cobbles and Ardennes campaign after breakthrough debut

Modern Adventure Pro Cycling is preparing to expand its presence in the biggest one-day races of the cycling calendar in 2027, with Cole Kessler expecting the American team to tackle a full spring Classics campaign and make its first appearances in some of the Ardennes events.

The 23-year-old has just completed his first professional season with George Hincapie's team, which made an immediate impression after securing wildcards for several major races in its debut year. Paris-Roubaix was among the biggest opportunities, and Kessler now expects the squad to build on that experience with an even broader program next spring.

“We’re going to have a pretty full Classics season. We’re going to do opening weekend and then the standard build through Roubaix. I don’t think we’re going to do Flanders, but who knows? The team is going to dabble in the Ardennes a little bit. I don’t know what I’m allowed to say, but just expect to see us at some of the big Ardennes races,” Kessler told Domestique.

The expansion comes as Factor prepares to become co-title sponsor next season. The partnership is part of a longer-term project that includes an ambitious target of reaching the Tour de France within five years.

For Kessler, the increased backing also means a closer relationship with the equipment manufacturer and opportunities to contribute to the development of its products.

Kessler said the riders have been given an important role in providing feedback on the equipment they use. “I think they really trust the feedback we give them on the bike, so it’s cool that we get to test new things and be an integral part of their project. Next year, people will get to see some cool new bikes from them,” he said.

The team's growth follows a debut season in which it quickly demonstrated that it could compete beyond the level expected of a newly established ProTeam. For Kessler, the defining moment came at Paris-Roubaix in April.

“That was the pinnacle of my whole year. Roubaix was my absolute dream race. Ever since I dreamt of being a professional cyclist, I’ve dreamt of racing Paris-Roubaix,” he said.

“It would have been perfect if I had been in the breakaway, but no breakaway went. As soon as we got to sector one, I knew my own personal race had started. When I got into that velodrome, all the emotions started flooding in,” Kessler explained.

“We showed the world this year that we’re here to race our bikes and we’re not just clowns. I want to show up to Roubaix in my best shape and give it a good crack,” he said.

His confidence had already received a boost during opening weekend. At Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Kessler made the early breakaway alongside riders whose performances he had followed while growing up.

“To be in a breakaway that was so strong, where I knew all these guys’ names, was really cool. It felt like I belonged in professional cycling, and that I wasn’t just a pack-fill rider who was going to get one pro contract and be done,” he said.

Kessler spent the previous two seasons with Lidl-Trek's development team before joining Modern Adventure. “If I was in a WorldTour team in my first year as a neo-pro, unless guys were injured or sick, I probably wouldn’t be at the start of Roubaix. When a team believes in you and tells you they’re going to give you these opportunities, that means a lot to me as a rider and as a person,” he said.

The approach adopted by founders George and Rich Hincapie also helped the riders settle into their new environment. “They put no pressure on any of the riders. They told us they do not care about UCI points and that they have a long-term vision for the team. They just wanted us to get comfortable in these big races and race like we know how to,” Kessler said.