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Wiggins was pursuit World Champion at 23, Olympic Champion at 24 and at 26/28 was absolutely dominant on the track, it's only his focus switching toward road racing that came rather late in his career.So, today it's Wiggins' 40th birthday, three days younger than Alejandro.
A guy who had his best years rather late in his career, yet it seems like forever ago that he was on the scene.
It really speaks volumes about Valverde's longevity.
There might be cycling fans out there who literally are younger than Valverde's career!
Wiggins was pursuit World Champion at 23, Olympic Champion at 24 and at 26/28 was absolutely dominant on the track, it's only his focus switching toward road racing that came rather late in his career.
That's true enough. Back when Valverde was podiuming Vueltas and WCRRs.
I was more alluding to his road career, but it's evident that Wiggins had another focus back then.
That would be a given. We're getting close to having riders enter pro teams and WT teams that are younger than Valverde's career. He has teammates who have said they don't know the pro peloton without him in it.
And then if you factor in junior years…
Do you mean considering extending another year past next year if cycling is cancelled?Movistar has been doing interviews through their instagram page with their own riders. Today they talked to Alejandro. Alejandro has admitted that not only is he considering extending his career by another year. In the interview from what I could tell it sounds like when Spain lifted some restrictions to allow kids outside that he took Pablo out for a bike ride. To me this is more than just thinking about doing so. Here's the brief summary from Marca:
"Hasta que apareció la COVID-19 tenía decidido que 2021 sería mi última temporada, pero después de lo que ha pasado no puedo asegurar que no siga más allá de 2021 y que hable con Eusebio Unzué (manager de Movistar) para alargar otro año más mi carrera deportiva", confesó el campeón del mundo en ruta de 2018, que acaba de cumplir 40 años.
Here's the interview:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc5oAjDgzPk
At this point it sounds like he's considering extending his career through 2022 regardless of how much racing does or doesn't happen for the rest of this year.Do you mean considering extending another year past next year if cycling is cancelled?
Good for cycling, need as much star power as we can get post Covid.At this point it sounds like he's considering extending his career through 2022 regardless of how much racing does or doesn't happen for the rest of this year.
Good for cycling, need as much star power as we can get post Covid.
Riding 85% of the year for 25 years would take a toll on anyone physically and mentally. Most of the older pros in every sport seem to be prolonged by a big break somewhere along the line.I agree. Cycling is going to need their current stars post Covid while new stars emerge.
In Alejandro's case every time he's force away from the sport it ends up extending his career. Also I think this shows that now that he's had time to think he's not as ready to retire as he thought he was. He knows it's inevitable and he's eventually going to have no choice but to retire. Right now he can push it back a little. I also think he has something planned that he wants to do to celebrate his retirement with his fans and he likely can't do it the way he wants to in an Olympic year.
Riding 85% of the year for 25 years would take a toll on anyone physically and mentally. Most of the older pros in every sport seem to be prolonged by a big break somewhere along the line.
Is Movistar happy about just getting the odd win in a season and a potential podium in a GT with Valverde or do you think they would be better trying to persuade him to take a backroom role in the team and get somebody in who has a better chance on getting more wins? If Movistar have to rely on a 40 year old to get wins for them then there is something wrong with the running of the team. There are some decent riders out of contract coming up and I think Movistar could do better. Yes, he has done well for the team over his career but there has to come a time when the Team decides when someone has had his time and not the rider. Unless he has the final say in all team affairs.
Is Movistar happy about just getting the odd win in a season and a potential podium in a GT with Valverde or do you think they would be better trying to persuade him to take a backroom role in the team and get somebody in who has a better chance on getting more wins? If Movistar have to rely on a 40 year old to get wins for them then there is something wrong with the running of the team. There are some decent riders out of contract coming up and I think Movistar could do better. Yes, he has done well for the team over his career but there has to come a time when the Team decides when someone has had his time and not the rider. Unless he has the final say in all team affairs.
And who's stopping them from winning? Valverde? How?Is Movistar happy about just getting the odd win in a season and a potential podium in a GT with Valverde or do you think they would be better trying to persuade him to take a backroom role in the team and get somebody in who has a better chance on getting more wins? If Movistar have to rely on a 40 year old to get wins for them then there is something wrong with the running of the team. There are some decent riders out of contract coming up and I think Movistar could do better. Yes, he has done well for the team over his career but there has to come a time when the Team decides when someone has had his time and not the rider. Unless he has the final say in all team affairs.
Good schedule. He will probably add Lombardia as well...It seems Alejandro's plans for this shorted season will be:
Strade Bianche, MSR, Tour, Worlds, Fleche Wallone, LBL, Vuelta.
Good schedule. He will probably add Lombardia as well...
Il Lombardia overlaps with La Vuelta so that is likely out.
The schedule itself is good and I want to see Bala racing as much as possible. However, I still think it's a bad idea that riders race outside of a small closed bubble before the Tour. Everyone has been in isolation and now is starting from close to zero with 3 1/2 months to plan. Therefore, it's very possible to create a controlled, closed environment for the Tour. Mixing outside that closed group (Italian races, Nationals) unnecessarily risks everything. And I seriously doubt the Giro and Vuelta are completed without COVID positives. I hope I'm wrong!
You need racing KMs in your legs before the Tour and it's 100% impossible for riders to get that without leaving the country they live in.