Simmons confirmed own feelings at World Championship with ninth place: "As junior I was one of the best ever"

"It's nice to see that finally, I was back there because it's been almost two years since I've been at the front of a super big race like this," Simmons told Velo. In Switzerland, he was one of the riders trying to follow the attack of eventual world champion Tadej Pogacar. "I look back now and see how on the limit I put myself just to try and follow Pogačar. I was two laps dropped, then to still fight back and be ninth."

"It's a small result, but to do it in almost the most inefficient way possible. The other guys who tried to follow me didn't even finish." There was more in it for the American had he dealt with the race differently. "I'm almost 100 percent certain if I ride the race better, I can be fighting for a medal. It's my mistake, not my fitness. My legs were there to be on the podium," said the Durango man, who has the fastest time on the Cauberg.

Against the power of superstars such as Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel, Simmons can't compete yet. 'I'm not going to sell myself short; I see what I can do in training; I know there are many guys who can't do this. But I also know there are many guys who can do more [than me].'"The former U.S. champion is still young, even though he just finished his fifth year at the WorldTour level. He has not yet found the connection to the top. I'd be lying if I didn't say it's a bit annoying. Because, as a junior, I was one of the best there ever was, really. But I also haven't had a super clean run of things."

"My neo-pro year was ruined by corona[virus]. I had a lot of crashes and a lot of problems. I still do believe that when I put together a full season, I can be up there." In the future, he sets his sights on races like the Amstel Gold Race and Strade Bianche. "For sure, I'm not going to be doing what these other crazy freaks [at the top of the sport] do, but I do believe I can win at least one of these big races. As soon as I don't believe that, I'm gonna stop cycling. Because for me, there's no point to be here if I don't think I can win the biggest races."