INTERVIEW | "What evolved a lot in cycling was the nutrition, without a doubt" - One of the World Tour's veterans on the big changes he's seen

Nelson Oliveira is 36 years old and has been part of the World Tour peloton since 2011. With 22 Grand Tours and 19 monuments under his belt; Grand Tour stage wins, national titles and top results over the course of over a decade in the peloton, he has seen many riders come and go. In words to CyclingUpToDate, the Portuguese rider has explained what he believes has changed the most, his ambitions with Movistar Team into 2026 and which races he will be taking part in next season.

In 2026, he will once again be the Spanish Team's only Portuguese rider, following the departure of Ruben Guerreiro. However Oliveira is a staple of Movistar, part of it since 2016 back when he was already a top rider - signed months after winning a stage at the Vuelta a España. Many riders have come and gone, but he remains.

"No, I don't think it will be different. We are always changing, there are new riders - it will be the same, but different," he told us following the team presentation in Valencia. "I think there is a group of young, ambitious riders who want to show their value. I think the new riders will fit in very well, and I think they will feel very good".

Oliveira rode for the team back when it battled for Tour de France victories, had the likes of Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde, Mikel Landa and Miguel Ángel López for example - all riders who have departed, although Quintana did return in recent years.

"I feel a great gratitude for the team, I have always said that it is part of my family. They always gave me a hand, I just have to thank this team for all these years and for continuing here". The end is nowhere in sight. "For now I have two years of contract. I will try to enjoy as much as possible these two years that I have. I don't know what the future holds, and I don't want to think about it. When the time comes, it will come. I will adapt and keep racing". 

The 36-year old will begin his season in Spain, and will take on a very heavy schedule for the first month and a half of the season. "Probably here in Castellón (the newly-created GP de Castellón, ed.). Then I will go to Mallorca (where he has confirmed he will be part of, at least, the new team time trial event, ed.), and probably the Volta a Valencia, and then Paris-Nice". The veteran also confirmed that he will be in Portugal, his home country, after the Volta a Comuntiat Valenciana. Certainly, at the Volta ao Algarve, potentially at the Figueira Champions Classic. 

"Yes, I will try to be a bit more busy. This year was a bit of an atypical year, I had fewer races than the previous years but probably my body appreciates it. I always felt better about it, I think that the races themselves help me to gain a bit of shape. Even though I train a lot, the races always give me a plus. I hope it counts".

Whilst Cian Uijtdebroeks announced his intentions to race the Tour de France, and it has been strongly hinted that Enric Mas would race the Giro d'Italia, Oliveira has also decided which Grand Tour he will put his attention on for this season. "In principle I will do the Giro. And then I don't know," opening the door for the second half of the season.

Having seen generations of riders come up and also leave the sport, Oliveira has seen a lot through his decade and a half at the highest level of racing. What has changed the most? "There is a lot more nervousness," he answered. "There is a lot more pressure, there is a lot more media presence. And what evolved a lot in cycling was the nutrition, without a doubt".

The nutrition is also something completely different, and he shares that everyone at Movistar is required to fit with the current standards of nutrition in the peloton. The 'magic' number of 120 grams of carbs per hour is not something only the best follow, but everyone from leaders to domestiques.

"Like everyone else. It's completely different," he compares. This key aspect is behind a lot of the performance improvements over the last few years, and even the veteran has had to adapt to the new methods of modern cycling. "The nutritionists study something and they are the ones who tell us what to eat and what not to eat".