Pedro Delgado: “Spanish cycling is at a disadvantage”

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the former cyclist Pedro Delgado, winner of a Tour de France, pointed out this Sunday in Segovia that “Spanish cycling is quite difficult at the international level” and he needed “a reference” to re-energize and “to keep us glued to the media to see how we’re doing”.

Delgado led the cycling sport march that bears his name, taking place today in Segovia, with 1,500 participants and paying tribute to former professional Roberto Heras.

Delgado told Efe: “We have promising runners like Carlos Rodríguez or Juanma Ayusoalthough in recent years we have continued to pull the tireless Alejandro Valverde, but we are a bit lost there, not only the fans but the riders themselves”.

For the former cyclist, “we need a reference, Enric Mas is a very good runner but he stayed in that band, he didn’t finish breaking, Sometimes it’s not his fault, the covid has passed, he also lost confidence in himself, which is essential for a victory, we are a bit of an orphan.

Today’s cycling commentator added: “We feel we lack references, hopefully in a year or two it will change to Rodríguez or Ayuso and they inspire us again about Spanish cycling when it comes to being glued to television, radio or newspapers wondering what will happen to our riders and their victories”.

As well Delgado acknowledged that cycling has changed a lot since the days of Roberto Heras“no longer mine, where international cycling is Spain, Italy and France and, therefore, there are many teams and many Spanish riders and at the moment the competition is worldwide”.

Along with Delgado, Roberto Heras, four-time winner of the Vuelta Ciclista a España, emphasized that “many (Spanish) teams” are new. “I have known tests with eleven Spanish teams, the percentage of runners is higher than today, which also influences that there are more victories”.

For Heras, “there are cycles. For example, there was a time when names like Pedro Delgado, Miguel Induraín, Alberto Contador, Chava Jiménez, Alejandro Valverde or Joaquim Rodríguez Oliver ‘Purito’ stood out, and there were others where you probably have to wait two years to reactivate the cycling of the people from below.”

Although he mentioned the name of the Belgian Remco Evenepoel, Heras did not dare to predict who could win the Vuelta Ciclista a Españathis year, recognizing that “it is more international, where the Spanish no longer dominate the leading positions”.

In the opinion of the former cyclist from Salamanca, “the routes have changed a lot, as well as the Tour, before there was a 70 kilometer team time trial, a 15 kilometer prologue, and two long 50 kilometer time trials. Now, in the Vuelta a España, there are also fewer time trials, more high-altitude finishes and it’s more open to all types of riders.”

Source: La Verdad

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