Neilson Powless Undergoes Surgery, Faces Spring Classics Sidelines
American cyclist Neilson Powless will miss the upcoming spring classics season after undergoing surgery to address persistent knee pain, his team, EF Education–EasyPost, announced on Wednesday, February 24, 2026.
Knee Injury Disrupts Training and Racing Plans
The knee pain initially hampered Powless’ winter training block, forcing him to reduce his cycling volume during recovery. He briefly returned to pain-free riding earlier in the year but was forced to withdraw from the Tour de la Provence two weeks prior to the surgery due to the pain’s recurrence on stage 3.
Surgery Aims for Long-Term Solution
After consulting with team doctors, Powless opted for surgery to remove inflamed tissue. The team believes this procedure offers the best chance for a full recovery and a return to racing without pain later in the season. Team doctor Jon Greenwell estimates Powless will be off the bike for eight to twelve weeks.
Disappointment for Classics Contender
“It is extremely disappointing to be missing out on the classics,” Powless said in a team press release. “I was excited to try some new races this year. I had a plan of races I wanted to target and do well in, so this is a huge disappointment.”
2025 Success and 2026 Aspirations
Powless enjoyed a breakthrough performance in the 2025 classics season, notably securing a solo victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen, outmaneuvering a strong Visma-Lease a Bike team that included Wout van Aert.
This season, Powless had expressed his intention to develop his debut at Paris-Roubaix, with a goal of achieving a top-10 finish. He also planned to compete in E3, Dwars door Flanders, Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Looking Ahead to Recovery
With his spring season now interrupted, Powless’ race schedule remains uncertain. “This is not something that’s going to take me out for a really long time, but it’s something that we will need to be cautious with,” Powless stated. “It will be a couple of months before I can plan a race, but it’s nice to have a clear plan of recovery.” He added, “At least now we can say that the problem is solved and I can move forward with a clear path of recovery.”
About Neilson Powless
Neilson Hunter Powless (born September 3, 1996) is an American professional road racing cyclist who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam EF Education–EasyPost. He is the first US Native American to compete in the Tour de France. Powless is known as a puncheur and classics specialist, with victories including Clásica de San Sebastián (2021), Japan Cup (2022, 2024), Gran Piemonte (2024) and Dwars door Vlaanderen (2025).