Neilson Powless Siblings: All About Shayna Powless

Neilson Hunter Powless, born on September 3, 1996, at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, stands as a prominent figure in professional road cycling, renowned for his versatility as an attacking climber and puncher capable of excelling in one-day classics and Grand Tours.

A member of the Oneida Nation through his paternal lineage, Powless holds the distinction of being the first tribally recognized Native North American to compete in the Tour de France, a milestone he achieved in 2020.

Raised primarily in Roseville, California, after his family relocated when he was five, Powless grew up immersed in an athletic environment shaped by his parents—father Jack, a U.S. Air Force veteran and accomplished Ironman triathlete, and mother Jeanette, who represented Guam in the 1992 Olympic marathon.

This heritage and upbringing instilled in him a deep connection to his Indigenous roots, which he often credits as providing his identity and foundation.

Off the bike, he is married to former ballerina Frances Chae Powless, whom he wed in 2021, and they welcomed their daughter, Charlotte, in the fall of 2023, adding a new layer of motivation to his racing pursuits.

Siblings

Neilson shares a close bond with his older sister, Shayna Powless, born on January 8, 1994, who mirrors his path as a professional cyclist of Oneida heritage and a fellow citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.

Shayna, who pursued higher education at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she joined the cycling team and transitioned fully to road racing, carved out her own impressive career.

She claimed the U23 U.S. national mountain bike cross-country title in 2013 during her debut season in that category and later competed professionally, signing with UCI Women’s Team Virginia’s Blue Ridge–TWENTY24 for the 2019 season.

Career

Powless’s professional trajectory began in earnest after a stellar junior and under-23 career marked by national titles and international promise.

Initially drawn to mountain biking and triathlons, he honed his skills in California’s competitive high school leagues before committing to road racing in 2014.

His breakthrough came with the Hagens Berman Axeon development team, where he quickly emerged as a top American prospect, securing victories like the overall Joe Martin Stage Race in 2016 and the best young rider jersey at the Tour of California that same year.

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Powless turned fully professional in 2018 with LottoNL-Jumbo, joining a squad that recognized his climbing potential alongside compatriot Sepp Kuss, though his tenure there was more developmental than trophy-laden.

A pivotal move to EF Education-EasyPost in 2020 unlocked his full capabilities, coinciding with his historic Tour de France debut amid the COVID-shortened season.

The following year, 2021, proved transformative as he claimed his maiden WorldTour win at Clásica San Sebastián, Spain’s premier one-day classic, and notched a career-best fifth place at the UCI Road World Championships in Belgium.

Powless’s 2022 campaign further solidified his status, with strong Ardennes performances leading to a fourth-place general classification at the Tour de Suisse and a daring Tour de France ride that saw him finish just four seconds off the yellow jersey after aggressive breakaways, culminating in a Japan Cup victory to close the year.

Setbacks like injuries and crashes punctuated 2023 and 2024, including a nagging knee issue that sidelined him from early-season Monuments, yet he rebounded with a Grand Prix Cycliste de Marseille win and consistent Grand Tour contributions.

Entering 2025, Powless launched his season explosively by conquering Dwars door Vlaanderen in April, outsprinting Wout van Aert in a dramatic four-man finale after the Belgian cramped, marking his most surprising classic triumph to date.

Accolades

Powless’s crown jewel remains the 2021 Clásica San Sebastián, a prestigious WorldTour one-day race where he soloed to victory on the undulating Basque terrain, etching his name among cycling’s elite.

That same year, his fifth-place finish at the UCI Road World Championships in Leuven, Belgium, highlighted his Ardennes affinity.

In 2022, Powless electrified the Tour de France with relentless breakaways, including a fourth-place combativity award on Alpe d’Huez and a virtual yellow jersey grasp just 13 seconds shy after stage five, while capping the season with a dominant Japan Cup win—his second career victory there after 2024.

Early accolades from his under-23 days include the 2016 Joe Martin Stage Race overall triumph and Tour of California best young rider honors, alongside a Tour de Beauce time trial victory.

More recently, the 2023 Grand Prix Cycliste de Marseille provided a season-opening boost, and his 2025 Dwars door Vlaanderen conquest—edging a cramp-hit Van Aert in a high-stakes sprint—stands as his most audacious classic result yet.

Powless has twice worn the polka-dot mountains jersey at the Tour de France, first briefly in 2023 after a breakaway surge, and boasts consistent top-10s in races like Gran Piemonte and GP Gippingen.