America’s Newest Cycling Team Is Going Large after Breakout Debut Season

Update October 27: Modern Adventure Pro Cycling confirmed its fourth new recruit for 2027 late on Monday.

The new U.S. team signed New Zealander Josh Burnett, taking its roster up to 25 riders for its sophomore year.

Posted October 26:

Modern Adventure Pro Cycling is sizing up for 2027 after its breakout debut season.

Last week, George Hincapie’s budding team revealed a flood of new signings that will expand its debut roster of 21 riders to 24 for its sophomore year.

WorldTour veteran Jonas Rutsch, former U.S. national U23 champion Owen Cole, and reigning Australian champion Patrick Eddy all join the team for 2027.

Meanwhile, the exit door has been kept shut. As of late October, no riders have confirmed they will leave the new American team.

Multiple time U.S. national champion Quinn Simmons had been repeatedly linked to Hincapie’s ambitious young project. However, the rumor mill has slowed in recent weeks. The 25-year-old’s long-term deal with Lidl-Trek makes any gamble with Modern Adventure seem highly unlikely.

Simmons or not, the arrival of three new riders in 2027 – a 16 percent expansion in the roster – signals clear intent.

In its rookie 2026 season, the team won five times, raced across continents, and saw a marquee invite to Paris-Roubaix.

In 2027, with added financial heft from new co-title sponsor Factor Bikes, Hincapie wants more from a team he hopes to take toward the Tour de France.

“I wanna look back in five, six years from now and go, ‘this is where we started,’” Hincapie told Velo earlier this season. “From basically ‘Bad News Bears’ to building to be one of the best teams in the world.”

American U23 standout Owen Cole steps up with Modern Adventure

Rutsch and Eddy are the household international names of Modern Adventure’s three new signings.

Rutsch spent seven years in the WorldTour and has twice hit the top-11 at Paris-Roubaix.

Eddy rebounded from losing a spot in the WorldTour by outfoxing two Jayco-AlUla riders at Aussie nationals and dominating the Conti circuit with Team Brennan.

Modern Adventure’s biggest hopes might lie with Cole, however.

The 22-year-old Californian won the U23 U.S. road race aged 19, and this year finished top-six in both the national U23 road race and time trial.

Cole spent a year in the UAE Emirates-XRG devo system in 2024 before he reinforced his status as one of USA’s brightest talents in his two years with Team Winston Salem-Flow.

“We’re excited to welcome Owen to the team. He’s a talented young rider with a bright future, and we’re excited to help him develop,” Hincapie said.

“Supporting young, talented American riders is important to us and part of our mission, and we look forward to helping Owen reach the highest level of the sport.”

Cole is the 13th American rider on Modern Adventure’s 24-rider squad for 2027, maintaining its stated mission of having at least a 50 percent American roster.