The six riders from the U.S. that will start the Tour de France on Saturday give the Americans perhaps their strongest contingent in the grand tour in years.

Neilson Powless of the US rides during the 16th stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 164 kilometers from La Tour-du-Pin to Villard-de-Lans Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. “I think finishing the Tour de France is a testament to years of hard work and dedication to a lifelong dream. Word of Powless’ feats in France has already filtered back to the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. But he certainly is coming out of the Tour a much better rider than he went in.”The Tour confirms he is its first Native North American competitor. It’s just something that I have always tried to keep close to me.”___More Tour de France coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/TourdeFrance and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports