Modern Adventure Cycling Team Prepares for Paris-Roubaix Debut

Modern Adventure Pro Cycling is set to make its debut at Paris-Roubaix on April 12, 2026. The team secured a rare first-year invitation to the prestigious monument, which is contested over 55km of harsh cobblestones.

Team boss George Hincapie, a co-owner of the squad, expressed significant nerves ahead of the event. Speaking on April 11, 2026, Hincapie stated that he felt more nervous than the riders themselves.

Hincapie, a 17-time veteran of Paris-Roubaix, possesses deep knowledge of the course between Compiègne and the velodrome. This pedigree is credited with helping the team open the door to the invitation.

A Mission to Revive American Cycling

The project was initiated by brothers George and Richard Hincapie with a specific and difficult mission: to provide American riders with a direct pathway to the largest races in the world. This effort comes as a response to the disappearance of local domestic teams in the United States, which has historically made reaching the top level of European racing feel out of reach for many young American bicycle racers.

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The team is backed by Modern Adventure, an American travel agency, which has secured the project’s funding for at least the next six years. Team leader Ty Magner emphasized that this long-term security is essential for the project to succeed and for young Americans or those from local US teams to compete at the highest level in Europe.

What we have is just the beginning. We need time to make this project succeed. Our goal is clear: we want to give young Americans, or guys who have raced for local teams in the US, the chance to compete at the highest level in Europe.

Ty Magner

The ProTeam has officially existed for only four months as of April 10, 2026, though the planning began earlier. Magner noted that the group first came together to set up the project in February 2025.

Infrastructure and Professional Standards

Despite its infancy, Modern Adventure Pro Cycling has invested heavily in professional infrastructure to ensure they are competitive on the world stage. The team utilizes Factor One bikes and a state-of-the-art team bus, equipment that has already been visible during various Flemish one-day races.

Magner explained that establishing high standards from the start was a priority during the initial agreements in February 2025.

If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. We can’t show up with crappy infrastructure and make a fool of ourselves

Ty Magner

The team’s presence has been noted throughout the spring classics, where their unique jerseys have been animating the races. The squad enters Paris-Roubaix following a spring season characterized by podiums and breakaways.

Expectations for the Hell of the North

While the invitation is a significant honor, the team is maintaining realistic goals for the April 12, 2026, race. No one within the organization expects a victory against elite competitors such as Tadej Pogačar.

Instead, the team is focusing on attainable targets, such as initiating an early move in the race or placing a rider within the top 20. Hincapie told his riders on April 11, 2026, that we’ve got to fight like hell.

Hincapie acknowledged the extreme difficulty of the event, stating that while it will be one of the hardest days of their lives, it could also be one of the most rewarding days of their lives as well.

To manage the pressure, Hincapie is urging his riders to remain calm and focus on the fundamentals. He noted that despite the race being the hardest in the world, the basics of racing remain the most important factors throughout the day.

George Hincapie’s Legacy

George Hincapie, now 52, brings extensive experience to the project. During his professional career, he raced for the US Postal and Discovery Channel teams, where he competed against figures like Tom Boonen in both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. He also secured a victory at Gent-Wevelgem.

Following his retirement in 2012, Hincapie made a previous attempt to start a team, but that project failed to launch due to financial difficulties. He also previously admitted to using doping throughout much of his professional career.