"I have never liked riders who discard 80% of the calendar to concentrate on something. Cycling is not the Tour de France" - Former World Champion launches criticism

Paolo Bettini was a World Champion in 2006 and 2007, seasons where he raced 75 and 82 days respectively. At the time, the Italian already had a preference for large schedules, and he comes out now with sharp words over some of the world's best who put in a lot of focus on the Tour de France specifically whilst doing the same for other races.

"I have never liked riders who discard 80% of the calendar to concentrate on something. Cycling is not the Tour de France," Bettini told BiciSport. It is an emotion that is widely reflected in many fans, however it comes as a result of riders having to focus on every single detail to achieve their best performances in their main goals of the year.

Over the past few years, as the preparation for Grand Tours chance, more and more we see Grand Tour contenders race very little before starting the Giro d'Italia, more and more we also see riders start the Tour de France or Vuelta a España without any racing beforehand.

Bettini's criticism comes mainly from the desire for spectacle all year round, and having the big figures participate with full intent on stage-races and classics not only in the Grand Tours. This seems very evident over his argument on Tadej Pogacar, whom he praises highly for his focus in other kinds of races.

"As a fan, I love Pogačar's interpretation. He has fun, in February he crushes everyone in any race in Spain, goes to Flanders and wins, goes to the Tour and crushes everyone again," he says.

Bettini's words however don't only reflect a pattern in moderns cycling, as during his prime this also used to be the kind of schedule that some of the world's best followed, Lance Armstrong being a clear example with (at the time) his seven consecutive Tour de France victories, where he did not race any other Grand Tour a single time and usually followed shorter calendars.