Skylar Schneider Returns to L39ION of Los Angeles After SD Worx Stint

TUCSON, AZ – Skylar Schneider has returned to the US peloton, rejoining L39ION of Los Angeles for the 2026 season and kicking off her campaign at the Valley of the Sun Stage Race this week. The move marks a second stint with the domestic elite squad, and her first time competing in the Arizona race.

The return to L39ION represents a significant shift for the 27-year-old criterium specialist, who spent the 2025 season racing at the Women’s WorldTour level with SD Worx-Protime. Schneider previously rode for L39ION and its affiliated team, Miami Blazers, from 2021 to 2023, achieving over 90 podium finishes during that period.

“When I learned that I would not be re-signing with Team SD Worx-Protime, I immediately knew that the only other team that I would want to race for was L39ION, even if that meant coming back to focus on US racing,” Schneider told Cyclingnews. “My sister and the Williams brothers [L39ION co-founders Justin and Cory] were the first people I broke the news to, and right away they welcomed me back with open arms. I grew up racing crits and watching them from afar. Last year actually made me miss them quite a lot!”

Schneider’s journey to this point has been marked by periods in both the US and European racing scenes. She began her professional career with the TIBCO programme before moving to Boels-Dolmans Cycling (now SD Worx) from 2018 to 2020. Her initial foray into the WorldTour didn’t yield frequent victories, prompting her return to the US and a successful run with L39ION.

Last year’s opportunity with SD Worx-Protime, described by Schneider as a “dream come true, for the second time,” proved valuable even without consistent wins. She earned a silver medal in the road race at the Pan-American Championships and secured a victory at a local race in Wisconsin. She highlighted the experience of riding alongside Anna van der Breggen and working with familiar staff as particularly rewarding.

“There was so much that I enjoyed, especially getting to ride with Anna van der Breggen and work with a lot of the same staff that was with the team back in 2018-2020,” Schneider said. “Playing a small part in some of Lorena Wiebes’ victories [last] year will be one of the most special memories of my career as she will always be one of my idols.”

Despite the allure of European racing, Schneider expressed a sense of closure regarding that chapter of her career. “I really did not have an a-ha moment that it was time to come back to the US, but I do feel closure on that part of my career now,” she stated.

The Valley of the Sun Stage Race will see Schneider team up with Holly Breck and Melsey Perez. The race schedule includes a time trial on Friday, a 62-mile road race on Saturday, and a criterium on Sunday. Schneider noted that this is the first time she’s been able to ride outdoors this season, due to a particularly harsh winter in her home state of Wisconsin.

While her sister, Samantha Schneider, is not participating in the season opener, the two plan to lead the L39ION women’s team at major US one-day races throughout the summer. Both sisters train in West Allis, Wisconsin, a location known for producing both cycling sprinters and speedskaters – the latter currently competing at the Olympic Winter Games in Italy.

Looking ahead, Schneider expressed excitement about upcoming races like Tulsa Tough, the Tour of America’s Dairyland, and Gastown. “Tulsa Tough & Gastown are iconic in their own ways and always draw the biggest crowds and prize money. Tour of America’s Dairyland is incredibly special as all of the races are in Wisconsin, and nothing beats having hometown crowds,” she said.

L39ION of Los Angeles has announced a revamped women’s roster for 2026, with Schneider joining Breck, Perez, and Joyce Monton, alongside Alexandrine Obrand. The team will focus on competing as a US domestic elite squad this season.