In this episode, George Hincapie and Bobby Julich joins host Dirk Friel to dive into the ambitious launch of Modern Adventure Cycling—a new American cycling team that’s already making waves on the international stage. With decades of experience racing and leading teams, George Hincapie and Bobby Julich share what inspired them to tackle this monumental project, how they overcame challenges in building their roster, and why fostering a positive team culture matters more than chasing results.
From candid stories about assembling their squad to detailing their unique approach to high performance and athlete development, this episode is a masterclass on leadership, adaptability, and what it means to create opportunities for the next generation of American cyclists. Plus, hear behind-the-scenes moments from training camps in Girona, their unexpected invitations to world-class races, and the philosophy that guides them as they strive not only for podiums, but for lasting impact in the cycling community.
Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or cycling enthusiast, you’ll find inspiration and practical insights on how to build something special, stay grounded through the highs and lows, and bring American talent to the world stage.
- 00:00 Power Analysis and Lap Comparison
- 03:09 “New Devices, Metrics, Automation”
- 07:50 “Inside Modern Adventure Pro Cycling”
- 12:04 “Securing the Deal to Start”
- 13:43 “Selecting Young Cyclists Wisely”
- 18:14 Supporting Riders, Building Futures
- 21:40 “Building a Team We Wanted”
- 24:26 Teamwork Boosts Morale
- 27:52 “Coaching: Data vs. Connection”
- 31:58 “Adjusting Plans for Race Invites”
- 33:11 American Cycling’s Ambitious Revival
- 36:04 “Performance Priorities and Future Goals”
- 40:20 Emerging American Cyclists in Spotlight
- 42:54 “Team Unity Drives Success”
- 47:51 “Maintaining American Presence Abroad”
- 50:42 “Endurance Unlimited Podcast Sign-Off”
Standout Quotes
Bobby’s Approach to Building a Dream Team: “We just said, hey, we wanna create a team that we would have wanted to be on, that that we would have been proud to say we’re a part of.”
“I mean, the goal my goal has always been if the riders we hired are are, you know, better than they than they were before we hired them, that’s already a big success for me, even more importantly than results wise.”
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE TO GEORGE
George on Looking for Riders to Fit the Culture: “We really just wanted to hire good people. No asshole policy. I don’t know if you’re allowed to curse on this one, but that was our Okay. Our main thing.”
Bobby on Creating Excitement Around American Cycling: “The number one, real focus that we have, from day one is we wanna create excitement. And if you’re not excited about American cycling, you’re you’re you’re watching the wrong sport because it’s not just our team, but creating excitement is not just surrounding our team.”
“Hopefully, the guys, uh, race without fear. They race, they continue to race the way they have been racing, which is super aggressive and, not intimidated and riding together as a team.”
GEORGE ON LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE
