"It's just robotic" - British commentator fears over demands of current pro cycling and junior scouting

Pro cycling has changed a lot over the past few decades and one of the most notable aspects was the attention to detail when it comes to training and nutrition. Whilst creating better athletes, it creates a large obstacle in the way of becoming a professional rider, and it turns the riders into 'robots' almost, Brian Smith argues. 

"I was so serious. I was always trying to do things better. I was always looking at going the extra mile. When I was racing in Britain, I was possibly the hardest trainer – a training machine. I was quite proud of that," Smith told CyclingWeekly. 

However, the British commentator, two times a national champion in the 1990's, believes that he would've potentially been better adapted to the current demands of being a pro cyclist than most of his peers. These have increased exponentially in the last 30 years, to a point where it's almost unrecognizable.  

The training programs are often adjusted and followed to the tiniest of details, as is nutrition; whilst technological advances continue to speed up the sport in ways that are incredibly significant just over the past decade - the use of aero bikes and skinsuits on mountain stages being perhaps one of the most notable. 

However this all comes at a cost, as many are not able to sustain the constant pressure and need for attention to detail, which is the case at the top of the sport but also amongst those who are merely fighting for a spot in it. 

"Young riders are becoming robots, where everything's measured. Their nutrition is measured, training's measured – everything's measured. It's just robotic. It's just not enjoyable," the Briton argues. He argues that in current cycling, no stone is left unturned, and young riders are forced to become extremely professional from a very young age.  

"Every time you push a pedal around these days, it's been uploaded for your coach to look at every day. To do that day in, day out, is super hard for a lot of these young athletes". This is also most likely behind many early retirements from the sport as has been seen this winter; and as in the last month alone was possible to see after the retirement of Simon Yates and also 23-year old cyclocross world champion Fem van Empel who decided to step away from the sport. 

It is a rough path and many pro riders argue that careers are being shortened in real time, because the demand is unsustainable in the long-term. And the peloton is becoming more and more young, as World Tour teams now often scout out riders from the junior ranks directly into their World Tour projects, in fear of missing out on the 'next big thing'. After the success of Remco Evenepoel's transition, it has become a staple in the scouting politics of several teams. 

"Cycling is getting younger and younger… there's people in their early 20s thinking 'I'm not going to make it as a pro'. There's teams signing up junior riders, bypassing some under-23s now," Smith warns as something that can also affect the natural progression of young riders.