American Neilson Powless (EF Education-Easypost) will be leading out the Tour de France peloton in the eye-catching polka dot jersey for a fourth straight day tomorrow. The 26-year-old from Northern California spent most of day three in a two-person breakaway with Frenchman Laurent Pichon (Arkea-Samsic) and defended the so-called King of the Mountains or climber’s jersey with confidence across four classified climbs.
“It was a successful day. I got some points today; it didn’t cost too much, so I’m happy, “he said in the post-race interview.
The green, yellow, polka dot and white jerseys of the Tour de France
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Best Year Yet
Now in his fourth year with the pink EF Education squad, Powless is having his best year yet.
He kicked off his spring campaign with a win at Grand Prix Cycliste de Marseille as well as the overall at Étoile de Bèsseges. He then impressed at his Flemish cobbled classics debut, finishing third at Dwars door Vlaanderen and fifth at the Tour of Flanders. Going into this year’s Tour de France, there are high hopes for Powless. The climbing talent gave Americans something to cheer for in 2023 when he came within seconds of the yellow jersey last year, earning two top-five finishes and ending 12th overall. The team’s goal for this year’s ride across France was clear: win a stage. And while wearing the iconic polka dot jersey had not been the plan but now that he has it, he’ll give it his all to hold on to it for as long as he can.
“The Tour de France is the biggest bike race in the world and I grew up watching it, with the polka dot jersey always riding at the front of the race. Now I get to wear that jersey. I’ve fulfilled a childhood dream. We knew it was a possibility, yet not an easy one as we needed many things to come together,” Powless commented after the opening stage.
Powless earned his first polka dot jersey with an all-out effort on the hardest climb of stage one — a category 2 climb called Côte de Vivero. In order to hold onto the King of the Mountains jersey, he knew that he’d have to make the breakaway on stage 2, the Tour’s longest stage at nearly 130 miles with plenty of testing climbs. Sure enough, Powless made an early move, powering his way into a break of three, and made sure he was the first to cross the summit line for the first four climbs, earning maximum points.
He spent more energy than he would have liked but he’s prepared to fight. With stage four being a flat…