Modern Adventure Pro Cycling was unveiled yesterday as "the future of American cycling," with the upstart squad promising at least 50% American riders in a squad aiming to be at the Tour de France by 2032.
The figurehead atop the project is George Hincapie: longtime former pro, key Lance Armstrong lieutenant, and admitted doper, who served a six-month suspension as he retired from racing. Post-career, the now-51-year-old led the Hincapie Racing Team until it folded in 2020 but is now back with a new squad. Old teammate Bobby Julich (who has also admitted to EPO use) will act as performance director, with more recent American professionals Alex Howes and Joey Rosskopf involved too.
Looking at the gold-lined burgundy jersey the team will wear as it attempts to bring an American squad back into the heart of European bike racing, the logo of its main backer, the Portland-based travel company Modern Adventure sticks out, as it it supposed to. Along the side runs the name of Factor, who will be supplying the bikes. But nestled amongst the smaller sponsors across the chest is The Move, the podcast Hincapie co-hosts with Armstrong, which hums along throughout the year before ramping up during the Tour de France.
The podcast doesn't contravene Armstrong's lifetime ban from the sport for doping. Nor did his partnership with official Tour broadcaster NBC last year. But what about the sponsorship of a team?
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