“I think I’m far below what I can become” - Lidl-Trek teenager thinks he can win Paris Roubaix as he sets lofty ambitions
Cycling
Héctor Álvarez knows exactly what kind of cycling he enjoys: one-day races, the chaos of the Classics, long-range attacks and the uncertainty that turns every kilometre into a battle. After his second season at the top level, the Lidl-Trek talent is still finding his feet as a professional, but his dreams and role models are already clear. Above all, he has his sights set on the Classics, especially Paris-Roubaix.
His passion for the Classics goes back a long way. Before he ever thought about competing at the highest level, Álvarez watched those races from the sofa at home, sharing with his father a passion that would shape how he sees the sport. “I’ve always been a big fan of Alberto Contador. I’ve really enjoyed watching him race,” he says. But it was the Classics that ultimately sparked something special in him, as he told Marca.
“As I got older, I’d sit on the sofa with my father, and the races we liked watching were the Classics. With 100 kilometres to go, the race was already completely broken up. There wasn’t a team controlling things like Sky used to, where you knew they’d ride one after another. The Classics were completely different,” he recalls.
Those images helped him identify with a particular kind of rider. Álvarez makes no secret of his liking for taking the initiative, sometimes more than is wise. “I’m the kind of rider who likes to attack, sometimes too much, more than I should. I like to be brave.” He saw that same approach in riders such as Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, two of his role models for their ability to break races open from afar.
“I watched those races and saw myself in them. I started looking at riders like Van Aert and Van der Poel, who aren’t afraid to attack from far out. I was like that from a young age, too,” he explains. His goal is to become one of those riders who will go for the win without waiting for the final kilometres.
“I love those kinds of Classics because I can be the rider who goes from far out, who’s brave and doesn’t wait seven days for the moment to come.”
Héctor Álvarez
Roubaix is still his dream, but Flanders is gaining ground
When asked to choose one Classic above all others, Álvarez still has a clear answer: Paris-Roubaix. However, changes in his physique could shift his preferences slightly.
“I’ve always said Roubaix, but my body is changing a little. I’m getting a bit leaner and putting on a bit more muscle; maybe I’m becoming better suited to the climbs. So I think I’m leaning more towards Flanders,” he admits.
The Lidl-Trek rider has yet to test himself at the Tour of Flanders, a race he wants to try to see how it suits his characteristics. In Roubaix, where he has already experienced the cobbled sectors, he has seen how physical differences can shape these races.
“I feel that some riders are bigger than me, with a few more kilos, and that the cobbles suit them better. I want to try Flanders, but… I’m still drawn to Roubaix, although I do want to try Flanders.” It is a question he will probably only answer once he gets the chance to take on the Flemish climbs.
Lidl-Trek, a team built to grow alongside the best
Lidl-Trek is central to his present and, above all, his future. Álvarez feels part of a project he believes is growing stronger, with the team adding top riders across a range of disciplines.
“I think we’re becoming the strongest team in terms of names. We don’t have Pogačar like UAE do, but I think we’re signing a lot of top riders across all terrains,” he says.
For a rider still taking his first steps at the top level, sharing a team with figures such as Jonathan Milan, Filippo Ganna and Mads Pedersen offers a rare learning opportunity. The confidence the team has placed in him also lets him look beyond his immediate results.
“The confidence they’re showing in me for the future motivates me a lot. Knowing I have role models like Milan, Ganna and Pedersen in the Classics, and that they trust me to ride alongside them and eventually replace them when they’re a little older…”
Despite his ambition, Álvarez knows he must not rush things. He does not expect to take on a leadership role in the short term and understands that his job for now is to learn and make the most of every opportunity.
“Being on this team, with these three role models, I don’t expect to have any leadership responsibilities. But the confidence they’re showing in me for the future is something I need, and that’s why I think I’m in a good team,” he explains.
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Mads Pedersen, the rider he wants to emulate
Of all his teammates, one holds a special place: Mads Pedersen. The Dane is much more than a sporting role model for Álvarez, who admires both his ability on the bike and his willingness to share his knowledge within the team.
“He’s a rider we all admire, and everyone on the staff and in the team loves him because he’s someone you can learn from,” he says.
The young Spaniard has already raced alongside him on several occasions and admits that every experience has taught him something. Even small details, such as the Almayén sticker he wore in Bucharest, reflect the bond between teammates who encourage and motivate one another.
But behind that admiration lies a dream: one day, to take over from the Dane at Lidl-Trek.
“He teaches me and motivates me. And why not? One day, I’d like to carry on the legacy he’s building here at Lidl-Trek. He’s someone I look up to, and why not dream of one day having the leadership role he has now?”
The statement reflects Álvarez’s ambition. He knows how difficult the challenge will be, but also sees the opportunity to grow alongside one of the peloton’s leading specialists.
Héctor Álvarez, a rising star of Spanish cycling
Héctor Álvarez ready to make his mark
Perhaps Álvarez’s most revealing comments concern his own development. Although he has already reached the WorldTour and is progressing within a top-level team, he believes he has yet to fulfil his potential.
To explain, he looks back at his roots and recalls a very different development path from that of riders who arrive at the top level after receiving professional support from an early age.
“I’m really proud of the progress I’ve made, the way I train, where I come from, the place I grew up and the family I have,” he says.
His father, the cycling school he runs and the youth teams where Álvarez developed have all played a key role in his career. His progress, however, was gradual, without early access to extensive training resources.
“I took things very slowly from an early age, with my father, his cycling school, the cadet team and the junior team. I didn’t have a coach until my second year as a junior, I’ve never had a nutritionist, and I didn’t do huge training hours, and so on.”
Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, Álvarez considers it one of his main sources of motivation. He is convinced there is still plenty of room for improvement and that his results so far do not necessarily represent his limit.
“I think I’m still a long way from reaching my full potential, so that gives me a lot of motivation,” he says.
He also acknowledges that from the outside, his progress may look particularly rapid. But he believes those who know his development best understand that he still has many steps to take.
“The team also knows that, judging by my results, it might look as if I’m developing very quickly. But I think the people who really know me—my family and the team—know we still have a lot of steps to take.”
That is what drives him to keep improving: knowing he still has abilities to develop, experience to gain and performance levels to discover. “I still have a lot of room to progress, and that motivates me most. It makes me believe I can compete with the best in the future.”
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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