"I hope that next year in the big races, the fight is not limited to UAE or Visma" - Pello Bilbao wants rest of the peloton to step up in 2025
Cycling
Pello Bilbao comes from a complicated year, but faces the upcoming season with enthusiasm and excitement. The Spaniard is one of the important men of Bahrain - Victorious, with whom he has been with since 2020.
In a recent interview, he discussed different interesting topics about his present, his role in the team, the monopoly in cycling and much more. "2023 was a very sweet year, maybe the best of my entire sporting career. I wanted to keep growing and I wanted to go for more ambitious goals," began the 34-year-old cyclist speaking to Eurosport.
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2024
"In the end it was a complicated year, in general, for the whole team. And for me personally, too. In the end, everything is a bit contagious and, when you see that things don't work out in the group, you work with a little more pressure. In reality, there were few moments during the season when I enjoyed myself and felt at my best".
Calendar 2025
"The start will be quite similar. Starting in Vuelta a Valencia, passing through UAE, which is a race that suits me very well and that in recent years I have never failed. Then we would go through Strade and Tirreno. Especially Strade is a race that motivates me especially and to which I have a special affection. Then it would be the Tour of the Basque Country, my home race. This year there's a stage in my hometown, which I've obviously marked in red. And then the Ardennes and the Giro. That novelty of the Giro d'Italia instead of the Tour de France. I wanted to make some change, some novelty, and well, I think the Giro in that sense brings me a lot because it's a race in which I've always felt very comfortable, and I'm looking forward to participating there again".
Pogacar's superiority
"It's hard to keep the motivation intact when many times you go to race and you know practically 90% who is going to be the winner. I hope that next year in the big races, the fight is not limited to UAE or Visma. I think that range will be widening for the good of cycling and for the good of the show above all. But today, seeing how he swept last year, it's difficult to beat him, at least in the big objectives."
The future of Spanish cycling
"I think Ayuso and Carlos are still doing well, Enric maybe a little less so because he is more mature. But at least Carlos and Ayuso, who are very young, I think they have plenty of room to keep improving. In the past we were not used to having so many big names who were even in the running to win Grand Tours. This year we have seen that we are not capable of getting there, the last few years we have not been able to get there. But even so, there are still people coming in strong like Castrillo and company. And we, the veterans, still seem to be able to give joy until the end of our careers. Last year Mikel Landa was at what level he was performing in the Tour. I think better than ever and moving better numbers than ever. So, well, today I don't think we can't ask for much more".
Your role in the team
"Well, I don't really feel like a great leader or the main leader of the team. I think that responsibility has to be taken by younger riders like Antonio, Santi, Lenny himself, they have to take over, yes or yes. Damiano and I can be asked to be a bit of a second option, as co-leaders or as riders with freedom, but well, I think we have to think about the future of the team. And in the end, we'll be in the rearguard and if we have to take responsibility we'll take it, but I think that the young riders have to start taking that responsibility first".
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