Sun Jul 06 13:50:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**US Champion Quinn Simmons Calls for More Personality in Cycling, Citing F1 and Hockey as Examples**

**[City, Date]** – American cycling champion Quinn Simmons of Lidl-Trek is urging his fellow riders to inject more personality into the sport, drawing comparisons to the entertainment value found in other sports like Formula 1 and hockey. Sporting a distinctive handlebar moustache and flamboyant eyewear at the Tour de France, Simmons believes cycling needs to evolve to attract a wider audience and improve rider compensation.

“We have guys winning a Classic and they sit there and say, ‘Yeah the legs were good, eh, thanks to the team’,” Simmons said. “Like, that’s boring for the 15-year-old kid watching at home.” He pointed to the personalities in F1 and the star power of hockey players as examples of how athletes can elevate their sport.

Simmons highlighted the discrepancy between cycling salaries and the sport’s viewership, suggesting that riders’ lack of engaging personas contributes to this disparity. “I think if you want to talk about the whole model of the sport, it’s a bit messed up that we don’t know make these big salaries with the amount of people who watch it. But some of that is on us that we’re not enough of an entertainer.”

He also addressed the pressure on American riders to conform to European norms, arguing that authenticity is key. “We can stand here and fully respect the sport and all the other riders, but you don’t have to copy their appearance.”

While acknowledging the importance of performance, Simmons believes entertainment should follow success. “First in sport, you need a performance, but let’s give the people something to watch.”

Simmons enters the Tour de France after a strong season, including stage wins at the Volta a Catalunya and Tour de Suisse, along with securing his second American road title. His recent victory in Suisse has bolstered his confidence in his chances for a Tour stage win. He is one of five Americans competing in the Tour, alongside Neilson Powless, Matteo Jorgenson, Sepp Kuss, and Will Barta.

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