Quinn Simmons of Team Lidl-Trek has won his third US national road race title. The 25-year-old secured victory with a solo breakaway on Sunday in Charleston, West Virginia, successfully defending the title he won last year.
Decisive attack by Quinn Simmons
The race was decided on the penultimate lap of the challenging course. Quinn Simmons launched an attack on the Wertz Avenue climb and immediately opened up a gap on his pursuers. The course in Charleston featured 343 metres of elevation gain per 20.9-kilometre lap. The men completed ten laps, which amounted to a total distance of 198.6 kilometres. One of these laps was counted as such even though the riders did not actually have to complete it.
Kevin Vermaerke of UAE Team Emirates-XRG responded most strongly to Simmons’s attack, pulling away from Ashlin Barry of Visma | Lease a Bike Development and Lawrence Warbasse of the Tudor Pro Cycling Team. But Simmons had already built up too big a lead. The rider known as “Captain America” steadily extended his lead and crossed the finish line with a lead of more than two minutes.
Third Elite title after 2023 and 2025
"As long as I could hold on until the point where everyone else was tired, I had a good chance of getting away," explained Quinn Simmons after the race. "It’s a special feeling. It really means a lot to me to wear this jersey."
Vermaerke won the sprint for second place ahead of Warbasse, who had already claimed silver in the time trial on 16 June. For Simmons, this was his third elite title in the road race, following those in 2023 and 2025. The Colorado native had previously won a stage at the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, underlining his form ahead of the Tour de France.
Stars and Stripes jersey for the Tour de France
Quinn Simmons will therefore also be wearing the Stars and Stripes jersey at the 2026 Tour de France. “I love riding in this jersey at the biggest races,” he said. “I’m looking forward to flying that flag again in July.”
In the women’s race, mountain biker Kate Courtney of She Sends Racing pulled off a surprise victory to claim her first elite title in road racing. The 30-year-old former XCO world champion and reigning MTB marathon world champion prevailed in the sprint against Lauren Stephens of Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment. Grace Arlandson, also of Aegis x Leaders of Enchantment, finished third.
Leon Weidner
Working student
