USA name strong Montreal Worlds squad as Riley Sheehan hits out over omission: ‘Let’s not select the guys who’ve been winning’

On paper, there is no obvious sole leader. Instead, Team USA will arrive with several riders capable of reaching the sharp end of what is expected to be a demanding race, backed by Sean Quinn (EF Education-EasyPost), Artem Shmidt (Netcompany-Ineos), Kevin Vermaerke (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Larry Warbasse (Tudor).

The selection is not without controversy, however. Riley Sheehan (NSN), one of the most successful American riders outside the eight man squad this season, made his feelings clear shortly after the team was announced.

“Let's not select the guys who've been winning races...,” the 26-year-old wrote on X.

Sheehan has enjoyed one of his strongest seasons to date, winning the Circuit de Wallonie in May before finishing second overall at the Tour de Wallonie. In August, he added another victory on the opening stage of the Czech Tour, beating Ben Turner (Netcompany-Ineos).

It was not enough to earn him one of the eight places in the American road race team.

He is not the only notable absentee. AJ August (Netcompany-Ineos) also misses out despite an impressive 2026 campaign, while Sepp Kuss (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Matthew Riccitello (Decathlon CMA CGM) have been left out as well, although their omissions are easier to explain given the heavy Grand Tour programmes both have taken on this season.

The choices underline the depth available to USA Cycling, but they also leave plenty to discuss ahead of Montreal.

Simmons (Lidl-Trek), Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike), Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) and Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) headline a strong American squad that arrives with several possible leaders rather than one clear focal point.

Simmons is perhaps the most obvious starting point. The Lidl-Trek rider claimed his third US road title in June, had another impressive Tour de France campaing and finished third at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal last season, giving him a useful reference on roads that clearly suit him.

Powless crossed the line one place behind Simmons in that race. He has built much of his career around demanding one-day races, but his build up to these Worlds has been far from straightforward.

A knee problem disrupted his winter and eventually required surgery in February. Powless missed the entire spring Classics campaign and did not return to racing until the Tour of Austria in July, after almost five months away from competition. 

His fourth place in Montreal last year shows what he can do on this type of course, though his form will carry more uncertainty than that of some of his teammates.

McNulty has even stronger memories of Montreal. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider won the WorldTour race there in 2025, although the victory was effectively handed to him by teammate Tadej Pogačar, who eased up in the finale after the pair had ridden clear. His climbing ability and strength late in hard races give the Americans another genuine option if the race breaks apart in the final.

Jorgenson adds further depth. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider has developed into one of the most complete Americans in the peloton and should be well suited to a long, selective championship race.

That gives the United States several ways to approach the final, a prospect made even more interesting by the likely absence of Tadej Pogačar after his crash at the Vuelta a España. Without the defending champion on the start line, the race could become far more open, and few nations will arrive in Montreal with as many cards to play as the Americans.