Just as its name implies, the discipline of road cycling takes place on paved roadways. Considered to be the most traditional, popular and purest form of bike racing, road cycling takes on many different forms. Events contested on the road include Time Trials, Road Races, Stage Races, Criteriums, Circuit Races, and Team Time Trials. At the World Championships and Olympic Games, men and women compete in the Time Trial and Road Race. The program primarily consists of a European-based training center that serves as a base for competition throughout Western Europe, i.e., Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, and Denmark.
The Road pathway identifies the next generation of road athletes with world-class potential and to develop the necessary skills to compete at the elite level. It develops their physiological abilities and skills, and provides them with world-class coaching, experience, resources, and the support required to excel at the highest levels of international competition.
Here's a look at how you can enter the Olympic Development pathway and work your way on to Team USA:
USA Cycling's Olympic Development Academy (ODA) for road is the best comprehensive development program in North America for junior and U23 athletes. The comprehensive and fully immersive program was designed to provide an athlete with experience, knowledge, skills and guidance to build a solid foundation and be prepared to take the next step forward in their progression to a trade team, the National Team or a World Tour team.
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The athlete will learn and experience what it takes to be a competitive cyclist at the highest levels. Athletes will have the opportunity to attend fully supported races in the US & Europe with an extensive support staff. The European blocks will be based out of our European Training Headquarters in Sittard, Netherlands.
The program will teach skills, including bike handling, pack riding, positioning, cobbles, crosswinds, climbing, sprinting and time trialing. Race preparation, race strategy and management from both an individual and team perspective will be taught. Team structure, roles, strategy, and execution will be key. In completing this extensive curriculum, each athlete will leave with incredibly valuable experience and knowledge that would be difficult to gain elsewhere.
USA Cycling is proud to support our National Team athletes who champion the sport of cycling and are the ultimate ambassadors for Road Cycling. USA Cycling will support National Team elite athletes with logistical and team support upon request. Each athlete on the national team will receive unique support to best address each athlete’s needs in terms of timing and type of resources. USA Cycling will work with our elite athletes’ trade teams to help maximize the combined resources. Our goal is to ensure that our top riders have everything they need to perform at the highest level.
For criteria on how to qualify for the national team and information on the levels of support, click here.
July 23 - August 8, 2021: Tokyo, Japan
USA Cycling Olympic Games Athlete Selection Criteria - Updated October 28, 2020
USA Cycling Olympic Games Staff Selection Criteria - Updated October 29, 2020
For more official documents, please visit: Olympic Games - Road
February 26, 2022: Zwift - Esports
Athlete Discretionary Petition Form
World Championships Selection Criteria
September 18-26, 2021: Flanders, Belgium - Road
Athlete Discretionary Petition Form (for all Ages/Genders)
Elite Men's & Women's Road World Championships Selection Criteria
U23 Men's & Women's Road World Championships Selection Criteria
Junior Men's & Women's Road World Championships Selection Criteria
For the most up-to-date information, please visit: UCI Road World Championships
USA Cycling is responsible for selecting the athletes who represent the United States in the highest level of international competition. For more information on the general selection process, click here.
Did you just have a top result in the World Championships or Olympic Games? You may be eligible for a bonus from the USOPC and USA Cycling. Click here to learn more.
| Elite Events | Location | Junior Events | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worlds Course Recon | AUT | Worlds Course Preview Camp | NOR |
| Pan American Championships | ARG | Trofeo Binda NCup | ITA |
| Tour of California | USA | Gent Wevelgem NCup | BEL |
| Thuringen Ladies Tour | GER | Health Aging Tour NCup | HOL |
| Chrono Gatineau | CAN | Omloop V. Borsele NCup | HOL |
| Chrono Kristin Armstrong | USA | Pan American Championships | ARG |
| Post Tour Kermesses | NED | Watersley Ladies Challenge | NED |
| La Route de France | FRA | Chrono Champenois | FRA |
| Veenedaal Classic | BEL | World Championships | NOR |
| Trophee d'Or Feminin | FRA | Team Building Camp | USA |
| Boels Ladies Tour | NED | ||
| Lotto Belgium Tour | BEL | ||
| Chrono Champenois | FRA | ||
| World Championships | AUT | ||
| ITT Camp I | USA | ||
| ITT Camp II | USA | ||
| ITT Camp III | USA |
| U23 Events | Junior Events |
|---|---|
| Istrian Spring Trophy | Gent Wevelgem* |
| Classic Prep Camp | Ster van Zuid Limburg |
| Gent Wevelgem* | Paris Roubaix* |
| Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux | Course de la Paix* |
| Ronde van Vlaanderen U23 | Internationale Junioren Driedaagse |
| Liege - Bastogne - Liege* | Tour du Pays de Vaud* |
| ZLM Tour* | Omloop de Maasvallei |
| Pan American Championships | Trofeo Karlsberg* |
| Rhone Alpes Isere Tour | Tour de l'Abitibi* |
| Ronde van Overjissel | 15-16 EU Race Camp |
| Ronde de l'Isard | G.P. Ruebliland |
| Circuit de Wallonie | Road World Championships |
| GP Priessnitz* | |
| Altitude Training Camp | |
| USA Cycling U23 National Championships | |
| Tour de l'Avenir* | |
| GP Wallonie | |
| Raifessen | |
| U23 ITT World Championships | |
| U23 RR World Championships | |
| *Nations Cup event |
During his professional road racing career, Jeff became the third American to win a stage at the Tour de France with his victory in the final stage on the Champs-Élysées in 1987. Over his 22-years of racing, he competed in seven Grand Tours and collected numerous wins in road races around the United States. Jeff was a member of the U.S. National Team, and he was the No. 1-ranked rider in the country in 1985. In Jeff's role at USA Cycling, he oversees the road programs from the development level through the U.S. National Team. In 2020, he was inducted into the US Bicycling Hall of Fame.
