"It feels like they’re depriving young riders of their youth": Alejandro Valverde criticises early pressure in cycling

Alejandro Valverde is experiencing some of his first major moments as Spain’s national team coach. Under his leadership, Juan Ayuso finished eighth in the road race at the Kigali World Championships, and this coming Sunday, the Valencian will once again lead Spain at the European Championships.

The 2018 World Champion discussed a range of topics on Radio Marca Baleares, including the state of Spanish cycling, his own career, Tadej Pogacar’s dominance, and he spoke in depth about Ayuso.

"In the end, you know what happens? Nowadays, with social media, everyone is free to have an opinion," Valverde said. "Is he the best in the world? That’s clear. There’s no doubt: he’s the best."

"And what happens? If he wins, people ask, 'Why does he win everything?' If he lets someone else win, they ask, 'Why did he let them win?' It’s like… why did he leave it?"

"Everything he does is questioned. And so, he wasn’t physically tired, he was mentally tired. Everyone has an opinion, and everyone can voice it. In the end, he is free to do what he wants. He’s on one of the best teams in the world and can do as he pleases."

"Then what happens? Everyone comments, and mentally it wears you down. You think, 'What is this?' If I do one thing, they complain it’s too much; if I do another, they complain it’s not enough. Eventually, you just get tired."

"It’s clear that everything is evolving rapidly. Now, after June, it seems that if you haven’t turned professional yet, it’s already late—but that’s not true. I believe the under-23 category must continue to exist. Riders need at least a year in that category to develop properly. Physically, you might have the ability, but mentally, you’re still a child under 18. If the demands come too early, you can burn out quickly, and I think that’s what’s happening."

"Cycling is evolving too fast. In the past, it was unthinkable for cadets to go to high-altitude training camps, and now they’re doing it. It feels like they’re depriving young riders of the chance to enjoy their youth."

"Yes, of course. From the sofa, everything looks easy. People question why you did this or didn’t do that. From the outside, it all seems straightforward. But in real life, it’s much harder. At a World Championship, the best riders in the world are competing, and everything is complicated. We always try to do our best with the best intentions. As I’ve said many times, the race will ultimately decide each rider’s place. I hope the Spanish riders finish as high up as possible."

"For me, it’s important that riders have experience in long races. Even if not in World Championships, they should have experience in major competitions."

"We also have riders in peak form, who have been at the front and won stages at La Vuelta a España. That kind of condition is invaluable for a 270-kilometre, demanding race like the World Championships on 28 September in Kigali, and we need to make the most of it."

"Clearly, what happened during La Vuelta didn’t benefit either Juan or the team. There were disputes, as we all saw. But Juan stayed focused, won two stages, and his main target was always the World Championships. He wasn’t even meant to race La Vuelta, yet he came out of it with two stage wins."

"Just like Pogacar, everyone is free to have their opinion on social media, where nowadays everyone is a coach or nutritionist."

"For me, Juan has had a fantastic season. People must remember he’s still very young, with a long career ahead, and we can’t demand more than what he’s achieved. He came from La Vuelta unexpectedly and still won two stages. So, do we expect him to win La Vuelta too? A race he didn’t even have on his calendar. He’s had a great season, and now we go to the World Championships with everything ready."

"No, I’ve always felt appreciated. In Spain, there has always been a focus on the Grand Tours—what everyone followed with Perico or Indurain. I wanted to win the Tour de France, and though I didn’t, I did make the podium. But I’ve always felt valued. Winning the World Championship was a turning point, but I’ve always felt the love from fans."

"There have been many great moments, but clearly my best was winning the World Championship in Innsbruck. My lowest points were between 2010 and 2012 when I was sidelined, and then my crash in the 2017 Tour."

"Good, very good. Young riders are emerging, very talented and promising. We have a growing generation, but winning is increasingly difficult. There are three or four riders who take nearly all the major races. It’s hard, but we have excellent riders who are always fighting—and that’s what matters."