{"id":1847507,"date":"2026-03-25T02:58:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T23:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1847507"},"modified":"2026-03-25T02:58:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T23:58:41","slug":"hes-won-at-home-now-hes-chasing-his-first-real-pro-win-with-americas-new-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1847507","title":{"rendered":"He\u2019s Won at Home \u2014 Now He\u2019s Chasing His First Real Pro Win With America\u2019s New Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/stitshorizontal.jpg”]<\/p>\n

\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Andrew Hood<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

Updated March 25, 2026 10:04AM<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Tyler Stites has done everything right.<\/p>\n

\n

The American pro won just about every race on the U.S. domestic circuit and survived the grind of pro cycling\u2019s lower tiers.<\/p>\n

But after a luckless 2025 unraveled his mojo after making a move to Europe, the 28-year-old is getting a fresh start with Modern Adventure Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s betting his future on George Hincapie\u2019s new U.S.-backed project, and has one stubborn goal that still burns.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy big goal is to win a pro race,\u201d Stites told Velo<\/em>. \u201cI don\u2019t have a specific race in mind \u2014 any race, a bigger race. Getting one of those wins is my dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not an empty ambition. Stites has been close before.<\/p>\n

And he just kicked to a top 15 at the team\u2019s WorldTour stage race debut this week at the Volta a Catalunya.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

One of America\u2019s top domestic roadies<\/h2>\n
\"Tyler
Stites leads the breakaway in Monday\u2019s stage at Catalunya. <\/span> (Photo: Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stites is\u00a0America\u2019s top domestic pro who never quite made it to Europe.<\/p>\n

A solid all-arounder with solid TT chops, Stites can win stage races and out of breakaways.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Arizona rider boasts a deep domestic palmar\u00e8s<\/em>, highlighted by overall victory at the 2024 Tour of the Gila as well as the Redlands Classic three years in a row from 2022-2024.<\/p>\n

On top of that are multiple stage wins across Gila, Beauce, and Joe Martin, and podium finishes at U.S. nationals.<\/p>\n

Those victories count, but Stites wants a real pro win in a race against the top pros in Europe.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2024 with Echelon, I was doing races like Provence and getting top-5s, top-10s. It felt very achievable,\u201d he said in a phone call. \u201cLast year I went away from that, but I\u2019m trying to remember I have that in me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Determination and personal belief are driving Stites into 2026.<\/p>\n

And he\u2019s already paid back the team by riding into the day\u2019s main breakaway for 145km in Monday\u2019s stage 1, which was reeled in 10km to go to open the Volta a Catalunya.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not for a lack of trying.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

More than a decade ago, the once-thriving U.S. domestic scene allowed roadies to make a living, race full-time on home roads, and have a chance to show off at races like the Amgen Tour of California.<\/p>\n

That was wiped out by COVID. The U.S. road racing scene, however, is showing some signs of life.<\/p>\n

The arrival of Modern Adventure Pro Cycling\u00a0and a revival of Philadelphia\u00a0and the expansion of the Maryland Classic are encouraging.<\/p>\n

Aevolo, Echelon provide backing<\/h2>\n
Tyler Stites took second place ahead of Magnus Sheffield in 2022. (Photo: Casey B. Gibson\/Special to Velo).<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He\u2019s hoping the win comes this season.<\/p>\n

Or, in a dream world, this week, where the team is racing against the best of the WorldTour.<\/p>\n

Now 28, Stites doesn\u2019t need to be reminded how cruel pro cycling can be.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s lived it most of his racing career.<\/p>\n

Racing on the Aevolo development squad, he hit some promising U23 results and raced the 2018 Tour de l\u2019Avenir to support Arizonan Brandon McNulty. A fellow from Slovenia won that year.<\/p>\n

Just when his career looked to be taking off, COVID shut everything down in 2020. That cost him a few big opportunities to impress the European teams.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

He kept racing, linked up with Project Echelon in 2022, and kept winning.<\/p>\n

His name is on the podium of just about every U.S. road race that\u2019s left on the calendar during the past five years.<\/p>\n

After another big season with Echelon in 2024, with third in the final TT at the Volta a Portugal, he got a chance to sign with Spanish Pro-Team Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, the same team heading to the Tour de France this summer.<\/p>\n

After stepping up to Caja Rural, Stites finally had the stability he\u2019d been chasing through years of piecing together contracts and chasing races across continents.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Missed chances at Caja Rural<\/h2>\n
\"Tyler
Tyler Stites, shown here racing in Spain last year, struggled with injuries with Caja Rural.<\/span> (Photo: Ion Alcoba Beitia\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Spanish ProTeam offered structure, a salary, and the kind of calendar that he\u2019d been dreaming about.<\/p>\n

Instead, 2025 turned into a slow grind of frustrating setbacks.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI would have a big training block, get into really good fitness, and be ready to race,\u201d Stites told Velo<\/em>. Then I\u2019d go to a race and have some bad luck \u2014 get sick, or crash at the beginning of a stage race. All the work I put in would evaporate, and I\u2019d have to start over.\u201d<\/p>\n

A tibia fracture in May, just weeks before nationals, was the low point.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust over and over, bad luck kept me from showing my true level,\u201d he said. \u201cI never really got to show what I was capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n

The frustration wasn\u2019t directed at his team. Quite the opposite.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey treated me really well. I was very happy with Caja. It wasn\u2019t the best year performance-wise, but it wasn\u2019t their fault,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year was a learning curve with dealing with setbacks and working on my resilience. It was difficult, but I just kept plugging away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Hincapie comes calling<\/h2>\n
\"Modern
Stites is part of the team at <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Modern Adventure. <\/span> (Photo: MAP\/Special to Velo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Stites was trudging between bike races, Hincapie and others were quietly building out Modern Adventure Pro Cycling.<\/p>\n

Riders like Stites are just the kind of profile the team is hoping to help. Hincapie wants America\u2019s first major men\u2019s road team in more than a decade to serve as a bridge between the U.S. and Europe.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Hincapie and his team of advisors had an eye on Stites, and after hammering out a deal to get him released from his final year with Caja Rural, Stites became the team\u2019s 21st and final rider for 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team is perfect for me and where I am in my career,\u201d Stites said. \u201cI have a lot of friends on the team, former teammates, guys from the national team. The American culture is exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now he\u2019s all-in on what the project could become help revive the broader U.S. scene that\u2019s been scrambling since the collapse of men\u2019s teams like Human Powered Health.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis team is huge for American cycling,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s finally something to strive for again, a way to make a living bike racing.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing up to Caja gave me a lot more stability with salary and focus on being a pro cyclist,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I have a two-year deal with Modern to continue that lifestyle and be able to perform.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

That\u2019s huge for Stites and other U.S. and international pros who were scratching out a living on the edges of the sport and can now focus on racing and have the backing to perform.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a sense that the team is building something from the ground up, with a mix of hungry young riders and experienced pros.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team chemistry is great,\u201d Stites said. \u201cThere\u2019s a bunch of young guys with limitless energy, and a couple of riders with more wisdom. I\u2019m one of the older guys now, which is kind of a new feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Knocking on the door<\/h2>\n
\"Modern
\u00a0Modern Adventure Pro Cycling made its WorldTour stage-race debut. <\/span>(Photo: Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The early signs are encouraging.<\/p>\n

Stites lit up the big breakaway in stage 1 to open the Volta a Catalunya, the team\u2019s first WorldTour stage race invitation.<\/p>\n

Now that all the pieces are in place, it\u2019s up to him to deliver.<\/p>\n

\n
ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not a lot of pressure this year for winning races or performing. They\u2019re not telling me I\u2019m a GC leader who needs to win,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like I am one of the more experienced riders, to help the younger guys to learn, contribute to the team, and hopefully we can win some races.\u201d<\/p>\n

U.S. nationals are a big goal, and just about any race in Europe.<\/p>\n

He kicked to 15th on Tuesday\u2019s second stage at Catalunya, with more chances this week.<\/p>\n

After all these years, the objective hasn\u2019t changed for Stites.<\/p>\n

And he\u2019s getting closer than ever.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
Andrew Hood<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

Updated March 25, 2026 10:04AM<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[analyse_source url=”https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/hes-won-in-america-now-tyler-stites-is-chasing-his-first-win-in-europe\/”]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/velo-cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/stitshorizontal.jpg”] Andrew Hood Updated March 25, 2026 10:04AM Tyler Stites has done everything right. The American pro won just about every race on the U.S. domestic circuit and survived the grind of pro cycling\u2019s lower tiers. But after a luckless 2025 unraveled his mojo after making a move to Europe, the 28-year-old is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,71],"class_list":["post-1847507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-velo-outsideonline-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1847507"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1847507\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1847507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1847507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1847507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}