Winds of youth - a Teen Age is upon us

[Oldermanish]

The physiological peak age of a cyclist is probably closer to the age of these young guns than we previously thought. Add in the better talent discovery, elite training, and doping programs from a young age, and you get this. Cycling functions a lot more like 5-10k run races than marathons despite the long nature of the races, and those shorter events are always dominated by younger people on average. I do think 18-20 years olds as you specifically reference should not be quite top level yet, and some of those riders are surprising, but the age of people like Pog/Remco/Sheffield is not too surprising.

I generally and anecdotally disagree on the peak age. If all things are clean and the racers are disciplined IMO that age is closer to mid-30's. That is taking the seriously gifted aerobic few, of course.

Having witnessed too many very talented world class level juniors quit before the peak their peak years almost to a rider was the same rationale: the sport requires you give up everything including your ethics on clean and healthy competition.

This CN article today pretty much indicates the same thing:

'We're not all like Pogačar or Remco' - Talented teenagers give up on dream of turning professional​

By Stephen Farrand
published 2 hours ago
Gabriel Berg and Cormac Nisbet quit while riding Soudal Quick-Step development team

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Soudal Quick-Step Devo team riders Gabriel Berg and Cormac Nisbet (Image credit: Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team)

Talented teenagers riders Gabriel Berg and Cormac Nisbet have given up on their dreams of racing professionally and left the Soudal Quick-Step development team, admitting the fears and pressures of the sport had left them unhappy and looking for a different life.

Fortunately both had the courage to stop racing before suffering any major problems. They were both grateful to the Soudal Quick-Step development team for supporting them during their racing career and after they made the decision to leave the team.

 

[Netserk]

Brennan and Nordhagen also belong in this thread. Seixas too. Also Jan Christen after Fóia.

Withen Philipsen has not yet had performances that are easily comparable.

 

[Netserk]

Seixas setting the bar for what 18yo can do. 6th strongest in the Dauphiné.

 

[Netserk]

Seixas setting the bar for what 18yo can do. 6th strongest in the Dauphiné.

Today he is half a year younger than Evenepoel was when he won San Remco.

Just turned 19 and delivered the best teenage performance of this era so far? Big expectations for next year too.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Today he is half a year younger than Evenepoel was when he won San Remco.

Just turned 19 and delivered the best teenage performance of this era so far? Big expectations for next year too.

Even though the races are apparently harder and faster than ever, these young guys coming straight out of juniors seem to have no issues instantly adapting to the level, and even thriving within it.

 

[Netserk]

last time its worth mentioning seixas in this thread before he needs his own

still just a teenager, also by the time he does the tour this year

whatever it takes to perform these years, it's mostly accessible from a young age and works fast

 

[kingjr]

Apparently, young riders these days already do as much as 25,000 km per year.

 

[TheKidsCallMeBoss]

No ***. The sooner you get the chance to train professionally and ride your bike for a living, the sooner you will reach your potential.

 

[Netserk]

Rnk	Age	Rider	Time
1	29	Ganna Filippo	21.53,663
2	23	Ayuso Juan	0.05,686
3	22	Söderqvist Jakob	0.07,612
4	19	Seixas Paul	0.12,711
5	26	Arensman Thymen	0.22,841
6	24	Vauquelin Kévin	0.23,964
7	32	Küng Stefan	0.27,741
8	19	Álvarez Héctor	0.35,69
9	25	Lipowitz Florian	0.41,981
10	27	Almeida João	0.42,765

 

[Cookster15]

No ***. The sooner you get the chance to train professionally and ride your bike for a living, the sooner you will reach your potential.

Its not just cycling, also in other endurance sports like marathon running and ironman triathlon it is generally accepted the peak age is late 20s to early 30s. Certainly not 19 or 20.

 

[Unchained]

Its not just cycling, also in other endurance sports like marathon running and ironman triathlon it is generally accepted the peak age is late 20s to early 30s. Certainly not 19 or 20.

I coached baseball for 8 years, many years ago and currently players before high school ( secondary school) are exposed to professional level coaching, training facilities and nutrition and weight training, year round high level play that was unheard of just a couple of decades ago.
If you would have told me thousands of 12 and 13 year olds would have a strength coach , specialized hitting coach I would have laughed myself out of breath. Thousands of teens and pre teens relocating to sun belt states like California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia where baseball academy facilities are located.
Many families restructure the life of the entire family to pursue sports greatness of a child or parents send children to far away camps so kids can pursue a sport.