“It’s not like it used to be” – Tiberi gives verdict on Tadej Pogacar’s retirement comments

Antonio Tiberi’s 2025 Vuelta a España has not gone how many would have expected. After eleven stages, he is 43rd overall, more than 47 minutes behind race leader Jonas Vingegaard. The Italian admitted he had started the race aiming for the general classification, but his form and circumstances have left him far from contention. Speaking to Marca, he reflected on his struggles, the dominance of Vingegaard, and the future of professional cycling.

“I'm already feeling quite tired, but I must say that's normal for a Grand Tour, especially when it's the second one in a single year,” Tiberi said. “I lost a very important teammate, Damiano (Caruso), who injured his hand before the start and couldn't start. His absence was felt because he also contributed a lot to the group mentally and was a role model for everyone. Even so, we've managed to maintain a very united and solid squad. We've had La Roja for several days, and I think we're working very well together.”

The Italian explained that he arrived at the Vuelta unsure of his form after racing the Giro earlier in the season. “When I came here, I intended to go for the overall, but I wasn't 100% sure what my condition was. I spent two or three days not feeling well, and I needed to confirm how I was feeling. Plus, I'd already had a big turn in my legs from the Giro d'Italia, so I could imagine I'd struggle a little more than usual for that race.”

So far in the Vuelta, Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider Jonas Vingegaard has been in control, leading the race with 2 stage wins. Tom Pidcock and Joao Almeida appear to be his closest rivals, and Tiberi has not been able to compete with the GC men.

He was clear about who holds the advantage in the current race. “The race is going as we expected. Vingegaard seems very calm and doesn't seem to have wanted to take the red jersey early so as not to force his team to work too hard. He seems in control, relaxed even in the toughest moments. He showed that on Sunday, attacking with ten kilometers remaining and managing himself without any problems. It will be very difficult to take this La Vuelta away from him.”

Beyond the immediate race, Tiberi also reflected on the demands of modern cycling when asked about Tadej Pogacar’s absence from the Vuelta and his comments about retirement. Until this year, the Slovenian's appetite for success seemed to be never-ending, and he has already won countless monuments, 4 yellow jersey's, a Giro, and the world championships. But, after a long spring fighting Mathieu van der Poel, and another gruelling Tour de France win, he arrived in Paris with a lack of hunger and signs of mental fatigue like we have never seen before.

“I can understand that. In recent years, the life of a professional cyclist has been taken to the extreme: you have to take care of even the smallest details if you want to be among the best. This means you reach your physical and mental limits sooner. It's not like it used to be, when you could compete until you were 40 with a certain degree of ease. Today, you can continue racing, but you can't aspire to great goals at that age.”

He added that careers may become shorter as the sport evolves. “With modern cycling, I think the retirement age will come earlier. Before, the normal age was between 35 and 40, but now I think it'll be more like 30 or 35, especially for the new generations who are starting so young, already 19 or 20 years old as professionals.”