Powless comes up agonisingly short at Glasgow Worlds: 'They were right there'

Neilson Powless of The United States crosses the finish line during the 96th UCI Cycling World Championships Glasgow 2023 Men Elite Road Race
Neilson Powless of The United States crosses the finish line during the 96th UCI Cycling World Championships Glasgow 2023 Men Elite Road Race (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Neilson Powless was once again the United States' top finisher in the UCI Road World Championships, finishing 11th on the punchy, technical elite men's road race in Glasgow, Scotland. But the result is only a fraction of the story: Powless was agonisingly close to catching the winning move but came up short.

The elite group with new world champion Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), podium finishers Wout van Aert (Belgium) and Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) and fourth-placed Mads Pedersen (Denmark) powered away from the larger group of favourites that Powless had survived through lap after lap of attrition. 

Laura Weislo
Managing Editor

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.