Rider Profile
Neilson Powless
EF Education-EasyPost
Personal Details:
Teams history:
- 2024 - EF Education-EasyPost
- 2023 - EF Education-EasyPost
- 2022 - EF Education-EasyPost
- 2021 - EF Education-Nippo
- 2020 - EF Pro Cycling
- 2019 - Team Jumbo-Visma
- 2018 - LottoNL-Jumbo
- 2017 - Axeon Hagens Berman
- 2016 - Axeon Hagens Berman
Biography:
California native Neilson Powless began his cycling career with the Hagens Berman Axeon development team, quickly establishing himself as one of the top American prospects. In 2016, he won the Joe Martin Stage Race, finished as best young rider in the Tour of California, and won the time trial at the Tour de Beauce. A mountain top stage victory in the Tour de l'Avenir ahead of riders like Egan Bernal, David Gaudi, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Jai Hindley put him on the radar of the top teams. Further successes the following year - a time trial at Le Triptyque des Monts et Chateaux, the GP Palio del Recioto and a stage of the Baby Giro raised his stakes further.
He was ready to sign a contract with Jonathan Vaughters' Slipstream outfit for 2018 but the deal fell through amid the team's struggle for survival, and he signed with Team LottoNl-Jumbo for two seasons. With Oneida heritage, he became the first recognized Native North American to race the Tour de France in 2019.
Powless signed with Vaughters' team when his neo-pro contract ended and has remained with the team, enjoying his breakthrough victory in the San Sebastian Classic in 2021. He came within four seconds of leading the Tour de France in 2022, and scored a late season win at the Japan Cup. In early 2023, he took victories in the GP la Marseillaise and Etoile de Bessèges. During the Tour de France, he wore the polka dot jersey for 12 stages.
Related Articles
‘Man, it gives me chills’ – Powless fifth in remarkable Tour of Flanders debut
By Barry Ryan published
News Two crashes, 100km off the front and a front row seat on the Kwaremont
Neilson Powless looks to go 'one step further' at Tour of Flanders
By Jackie Tyson published
News US rider carries momentum with news of fatherhood and third place in cobbles debut at Dwars door Vlaanderen
Tour of Flanders favourites - The big three and the best of the rest
By Barry Ryan, Patrick Fletcher published
Analysis Who can challenge Tadej Pogacar, Wout van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel?
‘I’m good when a race comes down to endurance’ – Powless steps up as Flanders outsider
By Barry Ryan published
news American takes third at Dwars door Vlaanderen in cobbled Classics debut
Powless says 'I've grown a lot' after first stage race win
By Laura Weislo published
News American puts versatility on display at Étoile de Bessèges
Neilson Powless solos to Japan Cup victory in EF 1-2
By Patrick Fletcher published
Results Piccolo sweeps up after US rider got away on penultimate lap
Powless pays tribute to Road World Champion Evenepoel
By Alasdair Fotheringham published
news Best USA finisher 18th in Wollongong in ‘really dynamic’ race
Analysing the USA's 2022 Road World Championships teams
By Laura Weislo last updated
Analysis Powless, Faulkner the most likely leaders in Wollongong for men's and women's elite road races
Blogs
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'Untapped gold' in store for inaugural RADL GRVL in South Australia
Nathan Haas calls gravel course 'raw, fast, exciting' after pre-ride with co-founder Valtteri Bottas -
UCI Gravel Worlds - new course, same criticisms cast doubt on event
Nathan Haas hears feedback from fellow riders on course elevation being 'selective without being stupid' -
Nathan Haas blog: We need to talk about the Unbound mud pit
Was it wrong to not re-route the course? -
Ellen van Dijk - Leading by example
'I have the chance to show the world how normal it should be to perform at a top level as a mother' -
Rukhsar Habibzai - The day I left home
'It is a story shared by thousands of Afghans. It is the day we left home, left our souls and left Afghanistan'