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Colby Simmons might best be known for being Quinn Simmons’ younger brother, but the pro peloton doesn’t really care to whom you are related. You can either pedal your bike or not. Luckily, Colby is proving that he’s not just drafting in Quinn’s slipstream. The guy can ride.
But it wasn’t always that way. Their father Scott also races bikes and got them both started at a young age. “As time went on my brother [Quinn] got more into it. And me seeing him getting more into it definitely sparked my interest as well,” the younger Simmons explained.
“To be honest, when I was 14 and before that I hated riding my bike. My parents would force me to get out and do something and not just sit on the couch.”
But all that changed and Simmons soon decided he wanted to be a professional bike racer. “That really became a goal when I was 16 years old,” he said. “I came over with the national team and did some racing. That opened my eyes as to how big the scene was over in Europe. And with my brother racing over there it seemed like a pretty good pathway.
“I think it was just loving riding my bike and loving the training and the suffering. Knowing that to make it I would have to be over in Europe. Then with that came having to decide to do online schooling and not just take the normal path of going to high school like a normal teenager.
“If you are not fully committed to being over in Europe you are going to have a hard time making it. You have to put in your time in Europe.”
Big brother also offered his advice. “Quinn told me what it takes and then I followed in his footsteps,” said Simmons. “He started doing online schooling in order to be over here to race. He gave me advice on training and he told me you have to love riding your bike because it is too hard of a sport not to enjoy it at the end of the day.”
An unexpected switch from development team to pro squad
Simmons was an unexpected signing for the EF Education EasyPost WorldTour team this year (Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
In 2022 the-then 18 year old joined the Jumbo Visma Development Team. “I learned really how to race and take their racing style, which is always be at the front and racing aggressively and really working together as a team,” he said.
“You see their racing style. They are not going to just sit there and let everybody do their thing. They are going to be the ones driving the race and making it happen.”
Earlier this year the 21 year old joined the EF Education-Aevolo Development Team. “After three years with Visma I was looking for a new environment,” he said. “A fresh kind of restart in a way. Changing up coaching a little. After three years of doing the same training it was good to mix it up.
“Of course, the appeal of EF being an American team and also having some American teammates is always nice. Always a bit more like home. That helps.”
But after only a few months on the development team he got the call up to the big show and found himself elevated to the EF Education-EasyPost World Tour squad. He had past experience in some big events: Simmons did quite a few pro races on the Jumbo Visma Development Team, as riders on development teams are allowed to race pro events other than World Tour races.
That meant that Simmons had quite a bit of experience which undoubtedly helped with the EF Education EasyPost team’s decision.
“The team gave me a massive opportunity,” remarked Simmons. “Being able to turn professional with an American team like EF was a dream come true. If you were to tell me this would have happened at the start of the year I wouldn’t have believed you.”
An early debut in legendary classic races
Simmons was previously part of the Visma-Lease a Bike development squad and stepped up to the WorldTour team on guest slots (Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
He had just turned pro but Simmons was immediately thrown into the deep end of the European Classics season, including the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
He’s still pinching himself about that change.
“For the team to select me to go do those races was unbelievable,” he said. “Honestly, I still can’t even believe I did those races this year. So cool!”
What was it like racing in the big league? “When I was there I was just trying to soak it in and realize that this was truly the top end of the sport,” he explained. “I was able to help position the team in key moments. They told me ‘Simmons we need you here, here and here.’ Basically, with racing now you know where the key points are going to be where you know you have to be in position. And if you are not in position at those points your race is probably over.
“They made it pretty clear that I needed to bring the guys to these key points and I think I did my job well. Hopefully, well enough that I can go back next year. We will see.”
Simmons is a quick study. “I think the main thing for me right now is learning what my strengths are. I really enjoy the idea of bringing someone to a key point in a race and then seeing them do well. Eventually, as I gain more experience I will probably race for a result. But for now it’s time to learn from the guys because I still have a lot to learn, for sure.”
To that end, he had a very positive experience at the recent Tour of Poland. “I showed that I could be up there on the harder days and really help the guys out.”
Discovering the biggest challenge with Roubaix and Flanders
Simmons in action in this year’s Paris-Roubaix (Photo: Pim Waslander/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Simmons’ ride in Paris-Roubaix turned a few heads. “That was a super sweet race,” he said. “It was actually going really well until two sections before the Arenberg [Forest] where I crashed quite hard. That, of course, didn’t help. But up until that point I was having no issues with the positioning. I find that, on the cobbles, when it really becomes selective that’s when I really shine.”
“Once I crashed, the race moves so fast that unless you are one of the top riders who can crash and come back, your day is pretty much done. At least that is how it was with me. You have to have good legs but you also have to have luck on your side. I think that’s what makes those race so cool. It’s not just about legs.”
So what’s it like riding in the big show of the World Tour? “The biggest shock with races like Flanders and Roubaix are how long they are,” he explained. “The distance of these races are something that I really haven’t done. In training, moving forward, I need some longer rides so I can be competitive in a 6+ hour long race. I have definitely never done races that long before.
“For instance at Flanders I thought I was on a really good day and could maybe do something in the finale but it turns out that once you go over five and a half hours it’s a total different ball game. You need to be eating more and it is just a different strain on your legs than you are used to.”
What is the future?
Simmons on the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen during this year’s edition of Renewi Tour (Photo: Luc Claessen/Getty Images)
It’s early days for Simmons, particularly as he is just 21 years of age and still developing. He will become stronger as time passes and also have a better idea of his future direction. But at this point in time, what does he consider to be his strengths?
“Personally, I would like to do more of the classic style races where the positioning is super key with shorter, 1-2 minute climbs, or Roubaix,” he answered. “I find that with my weight, I am not the lightest guy, I am not the heaviest guy. So I think the shorter climbs suit me but not much longer than 10 minutes.
“And then also in a race like Roubaix I can do well because of positioning being so key.”
Simmons’ short term goals reflect a maturity beyond his years. “Winning a race would always be nice. Winning a race at the World Tour level probably isn’t in the cards quite yet because the level is so high, but I think I definitely have the capability of winning a pro race.”
In the long term Simmons could become one of America’s next big one-day racers. He wants to be competitive at races like Roubaix and Flanders. “I think it is definitely possible but I see how high the level is and I think that is quite a few years down the road,” he said.
So how about that Captain America jersey his brother wore so proudly at this year’s Tour de France, where he was arguably the most aggressive rider? “I am not going to lie. I am pretty jealous of his jersey,” he said.
The remainder of Simmons’ inaugural World Tour season is packed with big races including the Montreal and Quebec events and the northern Italy one day races. He’ll then either race in China or Japan.
How is he taking it all in? “I am just living the dream. Honestly, there is nothing I would rather be doing than racing my bike. It’s pretty special.”