Quinn Simmons is expected to return to racing for Lidl Trek at the Vuelta a Burgos next week, August 5-9. 2023 U.S. Pro Road National Champion Quinn Simmons has been away from racing since his crash at Strade Bianche five months ago.

The 23-year-old has been out of action since his crash at Strade Bianche five months ago.

The 23-year-old was in northern Utah last month preparing for a comeback to the pro peloton, and on July 31 he took to social media to report that he had booked a flight to race in Spain, and after a months-long recovery period because he wasn't sure he would race again this season, He stated, "I have already won."

"Training. Training. I'm motivated. Now I just need to remember how to put my number on, and I want to thank the medical and performance staff at LIdl-Trek for all their help over the past few months. I wasn't sure if I would be able to come back this season, so being able to get on a plane tomorrow is already a victory," he posted on Instagram.

He called his time in Park City his "comeback camp," spending time "pounding fitness into my legs" on his road bike and mountain bike. Simmons videotaped some of his six- and seven-hour efforts and posted screenshots of his fitness summary for the week, which totaled 947 km and 16,931 m of elevation gain.

In recent weeks, he has run primarily solo in Utah, but also with Riddle Trek teammate Tao Geoghegan Hart. The Briton is making a comeback from a broken hip suffered in last year's Giro d'Italia, and the two will ride together next week in the Vuelta a Burgos, Geoghegan Hart's first Burgos appearance since 2022, when he finished seventh overall. For Simmons, it will be his debut in the five-day stage race.

Before the start of the season, Simmons signed a contract extension with Riddle Trek that will keep him with the US-based WorldTourSteed through 2026. Early in the season, Simmons raced in Australia for nine days, and rode solo until the last kilometer of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, finishing in 15th place.

A month later, Simmons put a big target on Strade Bianche, who finished 7th in 2022 and 12th last year, and attacked repeatedly and aggressively. He crashed with 74 km to go and was not selected for the Tour de France when he returned to the U.S. in May to defend his star-spangled national jersey.

He was very disappointed not to be able to compete in the US Nationals, which he said "saved my career" a year earlier. He crashed badly on stage 5 and continued racing until stage 8, but had to retire due to lingering concussion symptoms that kept him out of the race for two months.

"A year ago today, I made probably the worst decision of my career and got back on the bike. I've been fighting it, but I'm finally getting better. I'm going to train properly over the next month and hopefully be back across the pond in August."

In addition to Geoghegan Hart and Simmons in the Vuelta a Burgos, the Lidl-Trek team will include Bauke Mollema, Patrick Conrado, Pim Ronhal, Sam Omen, and Jacopo Mosca.