{"id":231835,"date":"2026-03-06T13:01:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/you-always-keep-the-confidence-from-your-last-race-quinn-simmons-inspired-by-il-lombardia-outing-as-he-prepares-to-take-on-pogacar-again-at-strade-bianche\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T13:01:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:01:25","slug":"you-always-keep-the-confidence-from-your-last-race-quinn-simmons-inspired-by-il-lombardia-outing-as-he-prepares-to-take-on-pogacar-again-at-strade-bianche","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/06\/you-always-keep-the-confidence-from-your-last-race-quinn-simmons-inspired-by-il-lombardia-outing-as-he-prepares-to-take-on-pogacar-again-at-strade-bianche\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;You always keep the confidence from your last race&#8217; \u2013 Quinn Simmons inspired by Il Lombardia outing as he prepares to take on Poga\u010dar again at Strade Bianche"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"603ee702-4e90-4674-ace7-1ec24abf95e7\">Lidl-Trek&#8217;s <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/quinn-simmons\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/quinn-simmons\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/quinn-simmons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quinn Simmons<\/a> is back at Strade Bianche this weekend, the American returning to Tuscany for the sixth time in search of a top result.<\/p>\n<p>The 24-year-old&#8217;s previous outing in Italy came at last year&#8217;s season-closing Il Lombardia, where he finished the day fourth following a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/we-cant-be-lining-up-and-racing-for-second-quinn-simmons-reveals-exactly-what-lay-behind-his-doomed-238km-il-lombardia-bid-to-beat-tadej-pogacar\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/we-cant-be-lining-up-and-racing-for-second-quinn-simmons-reveals-exactly-what-lay-behind-his-doomed-238km-il-lombardia-bid-to-beat-tadej-pogacar\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/we-cant-be-lining-up-and-racing-for-second-quinn-simmons-reveals-exactly-what-lay-behind-his-doomed-238km-il-lombardia-bid-to-beat-tadej-pogacar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">238km breakaway attempt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"603ee702-4e90-4674-ace7-1ec24abf95e7-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">At <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/strade-bianche\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/strade-bianche\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/strade-bianche\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Strade Bianche<\/a>, he has a seventh place and a 12th to his name in five attempts, though he holds renewed hope this time after a positive winter.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Speaking to <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wielerflits.be\/nieuws\/quinn-simmons-vol-vertrouwen-ik-maak-een-doel-van-strade-bianche-en-de-amstel-gold-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.wielerflits.be\/nieuws\/quinn-simmons-vol-vertrouwen-ik-maak-een-doel-van-strade-bianche-en-de-amstel-gold-race\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>WielerFlits<\/em><\/a> ahead of Saturday&#8217;s race, Simmons says he takes confidence from his Lombardia ride, a result apart from some of his previous season-enders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;You always keep the confidence from your last race. This was the first time that was different,&#8221; he said, referring to past seasons which drew to a close due to illness, the Covid-19 pandemic, and, in 2021, a crash at Paris-Roubaix.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;Now I&#8217;ve finished with a good feeling, and then you can really enjoy the off-season. You don&#8217;t constantly think back to how bad it was. Plus, you finish the year in good shape, which means you have less catching up to do when you start training again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;Because of that, I didn&#8217;t experience any stress during the winter. Hopefully, that will pay off. But ultimately, my legs will only reveal my true state in the race. On the other hand, I already achieved my best results ever in that period in December.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Simmons&#8217; profile meant he had been lining up as a contender at Strade Bianche in years gone by. However, crashes have meant he hasn&#8217;t finished either of the last two editions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Could this year&#8217;s race, which also features <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/races\/strade-bianche-2026-route-cuts-race-distance-and-number-of-gravel-sectors-after-years-of-pogacar-dominance\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/races\/strade-bianche-2026-route-cuts-race-distance-and-number-of-gravel-sectors-after-years-of-pogacar-dominance\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/races\/strade-bianche-2026-route-cuts-race-distance-and-number-of-gravel-sectors-after-years-of-pogacar-dominance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a slightly shorter and less gravelled route<\/a>, bring a different result?<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;I love being in Tuscany and racing there. The scenery is stunning. I&#8217;ve also done well there in the past, which helps,&#8221; Simmons said.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"f20c71c8-9b9b-4dbf-847e-6f5012243517\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1400px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:66.64%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3TgeZYsGMXFdE9q7iW5egG-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3TgeZYsGMXFdE9q7iW5egG-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3TgeZYsGMXFdE9q7iW5egG-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3TgeZYsGMXFdE9q7iW5egG-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3TgeZYsGMXFdE9q7iW5egG-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/3TgeZYsGMXFdE9q7iW5egG-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Simmons on the attack with Magnus Cort during the 2024 Strade Bianche <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"e3cd631f-4ab5-4b97-a937-696fb478b2d6\">&#8220;This race \u2013 I haven&#8217;t achieved a top result yet, but I feel it&#8217;s possible. That&#8217;s why I want to keep trying. It&#8217;s a big race, and not many of them suit me. I love the course, racing in Italy, and the Italian fans.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Strade Bianche is the immediate priority, but for Simmons, the big goal this spring will come next month, in the Limburg hills at <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/amstel-gold-race\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/amstel-gold-race\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/amstel-gold-race\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amstel Gold Race<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s raced there twice before but has yet to finish the biggest Dutch race on the calendar. He does have fond memories of the area, however, having been based there as a junior racer.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s actually the second time I&#8217;ve focussed on that race. It was the same last year, but it didn&#8217;t go well,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/mattias-skjelmoses-amstel-gold-triumph-over-pogacar-and-evenepoel-gave-hope-to-other-riders-in-the-peloton\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/mattias-skjelmoses-amstel-gold-triumph-over-pogacar-and-evenepoel-gave-hope-to-other-riders-in-the-peloton\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/mattias-skjelmoses-amstel-gold-triumph-over-pogacar-and-evenepoel-gave-hope-to-other-riders-in-the-peloton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mattias Skjelmose won the race for us<\/a>, so that was fantastic. He&#8217;s a good friend of mine. But two hours into the race, I already said through my earpiece last year that the pace was way too high, that it was a race for climbers, and that I wouldn&#8217;t be there in the final.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If that happens again this year, it will be difficult for me again. But I have to try.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a special race for me anyway, because as a junior, I lived in Limburg for two years. The United States national team has a house there. So our entire generation spent two years in Sittard. My fondest memories as a cyclist come from that period.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Simmons said he felt he &#8220;reached a new level&#8221; at the end of 2025, with his third at the GP de Montr\u00e9al and fourth at Il Lombardia his best results yet in hilly one-day races.<\/p>\n<p>The goal now is to find &#8220;another one or two per cent and be a bit lighter&#8221; so he can compete at Amstel. His end-of-year results also point towards another goal this season \u2013 the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/uci-road-world-championships\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/uci-road-world-championships\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/uci-road-world-championships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Road World Championships<\/a>, held on a course similar to that of the GP de Montr\u00e9al.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;My biggest goal is to win a stage in the Tour. And then go on to the World Championships. My third place in Montr\u00e9al gave me a lot of confidence. That came as a surprise last year,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Of course, I was racing for second place. But being there in the final of a race with 4,000 meters of elevation gain and my weight really gave me a confidence boost.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Especially with the team we have to start with, which is a team the United States hasn&#8217;t had for a long time. On the course in Montr\u00e9al, three Americans could potentially compete for a medal.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled <\/strong><\/em><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/races\/spring-classics-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/races\/spring-classics-2026\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/races\/spring-classics-2026\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>2026 Spring Classics<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong> coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders.<\/strong><\/em><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/sub24\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=SC26\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/sub24\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=SC26\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/sub24\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=SC26\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong> Find out more<\/strong><\/em><\/a><em><strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/teams-riders\/you-always-keep-the-confidence-from-your-last-race-quinn-simmons-inspired-by-il-lombardia-outing-as-he-prepares-to-take-on-pogacar-again-at-strade-bianche\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lidl-Trek&#8217;s Quinn Simmons is back at Strade Bianche this weekend, the American returning to Tuscany for the sixth time in search of a top result. The 24-year-old&#8217;s previous outing in Italy came at last year&#8217;s season-closing Il Lombardia, where he finished the day fourth following a 238km breakaway attempt. At Strade Bianche, he has a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":231836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6804],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-231835","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=231835"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/231835\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/231836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=231835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=231835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=231835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}