A 2022 cyclist marked by the farewell of Valverde, the emergence of Evenepoel and Vingegaard and the rise of Ayuso

It’s difficult to summarize everything that happened in cycling throughout the year 2022. Fortunately, there were many days of glory, although there were also less successful days and disappointments. The cycling peloton regained the usual rhythm of the races, leaving the strict restrictions due to Covid, the public returned to the roads, creating the perfect framework for Alejandro Valverde could say goodbye to cycling feeling the guts of fans. A distant 2002 ‘the bullet’ debuted in the range of Kelme-Costa Blanca, at the beginning of the most successful trajectories that can be remembered. Successful level of results and successful regarding the level of respect from fellow professionals and fans, who felt it very close.

He left after achieving 133 victories as a professional cyclist, after achieving five victories in walloon arrowfour in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. After doing the 3rd in Turn around of 2016, 3rd in Tour of 2015, to win a Lap (2009) and made seven podiums at the Spanish round. Perhaps he lacked the embrace of Olympic glory, but he left it after 2022 where he battled with the youngest to cross the finish line first, which is why he was 2nd in Street Bianche or to walloon arrow. One year, which, by the way, gave a big scare when he was run over in his native Murcia while training with some friends.

The most human version of Pogacar

2nd in Street Bianche behind a Tadej Pogacar without the expected year. In a season marked by the death of his partner’s mother, this fact changed his set-up and the truth is that he had a bad day in Tour de France for which he paid dearly. He could not repeat the success of 2021 and the Danish JOnas Vingegaard2nd in 2021, opportunity not missed.

The Belgian didn’t miss it either Remco Evenepoel. of young people Cannibals It is said that he is not a runner in the three-week grand tour, but his time in 2021 Giro d’Italia is likely precipitated, being the ‘Pink Corsa’ the first race in which he was registered after a serious fall of Il Lombardy and even 10 months in dry dock. And not content with winning Lapdays later he managed to become world champion in the journey, being the youngest ever to achieve it, at 22 years and 243 days.

A year in which Spanish cycling once again put on muscle. Michael Landa he could not go to the Tour as he intended, but in his career, in Italy is spinninghe managed to finish 3rd again, as he did in 2015. A podium he claims and he fills the morale drum for 2023. And morale and more is what the Balearic Islands man carries with his pride enric mas. After things didn’t quite turn out the way he wanted all season, the from Artà he recovered from the abandonment of the Tour and was 2nd again in the Vuelta, like in 2021, and then he was a young Juan Ayuso that in his third place in the Spanish round he had just discovered the jar of essences, in case there was any doubt.

Body tools are scary

2022 is a year of nerves, a lot of nerves, especially when in the middle of the season the teams that round off their performances little realize that they could lose the season at the end of the year. They knew this long ago, two years ago, but until they saw the wolf’s ears they didn’t react in time. Movistar knows how to right the ship and the results accompany him, not so the Israel Premier Tech which ended up losing the category, no matter how heavy it was on the tycoon Sylvan Adams.

And as is often the case every year, there are runners who run out of luck, in some cases almost costing their lives. This is the case of Egan Bernalran into him Colombia native in January 2022 while training. He was afraid for his life and that he could live a normal life again, but that’s it Ineos He returned to competition prematurely, although did not show the excellent level to which he aspires in 2023. Julian Alaphilippe Y Roglic is a cousin they fall victim to more falls than expected, which lowers their performance; Y Nairo Quintana tested positive for tramadol in a Tour de France test.

And in the women’s category, women’s cycling continues to improve. Every day it is growing, women are enjoying more races and television and different platforms spread it. And they will give you more in 2023, in what will be the last year of Dutch Movistar Annemiek Van Vleuten. At the age of 40, he managed to become a world champion with a broken arm, he won the Giro, the Tour and the Vueltaand always with a smile on his face.

And we can’t say goodbye to 2022 without referring to it david valero. the biker of Trick (Grenada)copper in games in tokyoended the year as number one in the mountain bike world, which no Spanish biker had achieved until now.

And here is this brief summary of 2022 at the cyclist level. Certainly things were left in ink. Next year more and better.