David Valero: “At the Paris Games I will try to beat the bronze in Tokyo. I know it’s complicated, but not impossible”

David Valero (December 27, 1988, Baza) attends MD when the concentration is on Sierra Nevada path of Alteaafter its technical stop Assets indigenous before heading to Olympic Games in Paris. Valero defended at the Paris event the bronze in the Tokyo 2020 cross country event. Revalidating or improving this medal will not be easy, but David will give it his all.

He goes to Paris after making history and winning his ninth Spanish XC champion title.

Ninth, yes, the truth is even more complicated because of the level of mountain bikes in Spain, which is quite high, both with Jofre Cullell – his partner in the BH Coloma Team and who will accompany him in the Paris Games. like David Campos. I am happy to make history in the national MTB, now let’s see what the future holds.

A ninth title that allows him to surpass a benchmark like Hermida in the national MTB record.

It’s incredible, because being elite for nine years is very difficult for any athlete and any athlete knows how difficult it is to be regular and perform at your best, and to do this for nine years is undoubtedly a source of pride.

Who will tell the young Valero who works in a bike shop in his native Baza?

And may the state of form last longer and may we continue to give joy. In the end, I feel that my time is passing, that new generations will come and the years will pass, that you will pass to the second place and you will see that you are a reference for children and that is without a doubt which is a reason to be proud.

It’s true, years go by for everyone. I don’t know if at the age of 35 he still loves cycling, if he still wants to train and sacrifice every day.

The least difficult for me is the training because I like to ride a bike. Many times the most difficult thing is that you go to the races and the results do not appear or the level is so high that I do not see the result of the training, but one has to assimilate that the years pass.

A feeling reflected in the results of the World Cup.

Training with data I am very happy. I’m in very good condition and it’s true that I haven’t shown it in any World Cup, but I haven’t come to any test that has rested to show what the training numbers indicate. I am more excited and motivated to prepare for the Games, although along the way many things have been lost and received a lot of criticism from all the people saying that I am out of shape and I am not performing, but when of an age, you can aim for a clear goal or not.

That means, Games are his priority.

Yes, I put the World Cup aside to go to Paris. I talked about it with Carlos (Coloma, his team leader), it’s about betting everything on one and see if it works. Carlos knows how important the Games are (he won bronze at Rio 2016), tries to focus everything on one goal and perform at his best that day.

What do you think of the MTB circuit at the Games? like?

Yes, it suits my characteristics. The two tests we did there went well, where we tested the new material and the new BH bike.

Honestly, do you see yourself with medal options?

It is not easy because seeing the level of the final events in the World Cup the level is so high that any of the first 20 can win a race and therefore an Olympic medal. I don’t give anyone as a big favourite, maybe Pidcock. There’s also Nino (Schurter), Sarrou (Jordan), Fluckiger… As I see how I perform, I’m closer to being 100% optimal and it gives me a lot of peace of mind over the years, even that I am two. minute behind the head. I need to lose some weight, come fresher and reduce those three minutes to fight for the podium and the medals.

And, what does it mean for you to compete in these Olympic Games?

For me, representing Spain at the Paris Games is very important. I am very excited and happy for my third Games. I came with a lot of desire to try to do my best and I will try to beat the bronze in Tokyo. It’s complicated, but not impossible and I’ve worked a lot.

Can you see Nino Schurter playing his best at 38 years old?

I don’t know, riding a bike yes. I want to. I spoke with Carlos, and I want to spend a year, two or three more in the Olympic discipline, but I want to combine it a little bit with the marathon or gravel, taking away the pressure of always being in the top ten, sitting back and give the responsibility to other young people, like Jofre, and help them in any way I can and pass my experience on to them.

Do you see yourself leading a team like Carlos Coloma?

Like bringing the team… Carlos’s life is very difficult because he never stops traveling. I think I’m calmer than him. I want to continue riding my bike as long as I can and compete in other types of races.

After so many years at the World Cup, what has changed the most?

The circuits and the level, which in the last four years have been very equal. Now you can’t make any mistakes in the race, neither climbing nor descending. Imagine there are about 20 cyclists in a minute. They are many. You start analyzing a road stage or high finish and 20 didn’t enter in the same minute.

Now that you mentioned the road, you had options to leave the MTB and go to the asphalt and you didn’t do it, do you regret it?

I do not regret it because I like the road to train, it is a very important point to work with the road bike, but the way of running is very different. On the road I would have been a second-rank cyclist and in mountain biking you can perform at the highest level with what you have, on the road there is always a stronger leader and others work for him. And seeing the dips in the road gives me more respect. Seeing what happened in the Basque Country, I think there are teams that will consider which riders to take to which races. It couldn’t be that some of the Tour’s great favorites fell and hurt themselves badly. You can waste an entire year of work.

From the Paris Olympic Games, if your agenda allows it, what sports or events would you like to see?

The 100 meter dash and the 1,500 in athletics. They are two of the tests that for me characterize the Olympic Games. I also want to watch a basketball game, the American team, and some swimming.

If you were allowed, what Olympic sport would you like to compete in?

It never crossed my mind. I really like running, but what I like the most is trail running, when you run in the mountains you are very free and I like to be in touch with nature.

What is more complicated for you, being a father or a high-performance athlete?

I’m not at home as much as I want and I really want to enjoy my family. Being a top athlete involves a lot of sacrifice, more than people think.

Any charms with compita?

I have a picture of my family. The chain that I always run is my talisman, in which my wife and my son are represented (they are now dependent on a woman). I’ve been wearing a Caravaca cross pendant since my husband received communion, one of mine from communion and my son’s foot engraved.