TUCSON, Arizona – American cyclist Skylar Schneider began her return to US domestic racing on Friday at the Valley of the Sun Stage Race, competing with L39ION of Los Angeles for the first time since 2023. The 27-year-old criterium specialist is back with the team after a season racing at the Women’s WorldTour level with SD Worx-Protime, a move she described as a deliberate refocusing of her career.
Schneider’s return to L39ION marks a second stint with the American squad, where she previously achieved 90 podium finishes across criteriums and road races between 2021 and 2023, including a period with the spin-off team, Miami Blazers. Her 2025 season with SD Worx-Protime offered a second opportunity to race in Europe, having previously ridden for Boels-Dolmans Cycling (now SD Worx) from 2018 to 2020.
“When I learned that I would not be re-signing with Team SD Worx-Protime, I immediately knew that the only other team that I would want to race for was L39ION, even if that meant coming back to focus on US racing,” Schneider told Cyclingnews. “My sister and the Williams brothers [L39ION co-founders Justin and Cory] were the first people I broke the news to, and right away they welcomed me back with open arms. I grew up racing crits and watching them from afar. Last year actually made me miss them quite a lot!”
Despite not securing a second year with SD Worx, Schneider described the experience as valuable. She earned a silver medal in the road race at the Pan-American Championships and won a race at the Kwik Trip Tour of America’s Dairyland although based in Europe. She highlighted the opportunity to ride alongside Anna van der Breggen and work with familiar staff from her previous time with the team as particularly rewarding. “Playing a modest part in some of Lorena Wiebes’ victories [last] year will be one of the most special memories of my career as she will always be one of my idols,” she said.
Schneider acknowledged a sense of closure regarding her European racing ambitions. “I really did not have an a-ha moment that it was time to approach back to the US, but I do sense closure on that part of my career now,” she stated.
The Valley of the Sun Stage Race began Friday with a time trial, followed by a 62-mile road race on Saturday and a criterium on Sunday. Schneider is joined by Holly Breck and Melsey Perez as the only three riders representing L39ION’s women’s team at the event. “Other than my sister, the L39ION women’s team has all new riders from when I was last on it in 2023. This is really exciting for me as we have the chance to build a really professional and cohesive team with a lot of untapped potential. We just have a small but mighty team of three women here with Holly, Melsey and I,” she said.
Schneider’s sister, Samantha Schneider, is not participating in the season opener. Both sisters are based in West Allis, Wisconsin, and train indoors during the winter months. The pair last raced together two years ago for the Blazers and plan to compete together at major US one-day races later in the season. Wisconsin is a training hub for winter sports, serving as the training site for the USA’s speedskating team currently competing at the Olympic Winter Games in Italy.
Looking ahead, Schneider expressed enthusiasm for upcoming races including Tulsa Tough, the Tour of America’s Dairyland, and Gastown, citing their large crowds and prize money. “Tulsa Tough & Gastown are iconic in their own ways and always draw the biggest crowds and prize money. Tour of America’s Dairyland is incredibly special as all of the races are in Wisconsin, and nothing beats having hometown crowds.”
