James Knox: "Most people ride the domestique team-mate role by default"

After an inconsistent year where he's struggled to reach his best level, James Knox is preparing for the 2022 season where he will try to make a comeback. The Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team rider is an important piece in the team's mountain block.

“Up until 2020, every year I was getting a little bit better. The possibilities felt endless. It’s somewhat hard to take but I’m a realist, I don’t mind if this is my level," Knox said in an interview with CyclingWeekly where he's opened up about the struggles of riding at the top level, specially when things don't just click.

Despite having had some strong results showing his climbing prowess in the peloton since joining Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team in 2018, the 26-year old has settled into a domestique role which isn't always easy for an ambitious rider: “Despite what a lot of people say, and you know, I'm happy to be a team-mate and all of that, but I think most people ride the domestique team-mate role by default. They have no option, the team tells them this guy is better than you, and 90 per cent of the guys who get told that accept it and realise that the person above them is better.”

"It's not now or never, is it? I'm 26. It doesn't mean guys don't bloom late. I didn't come out at 18 or 20, like Pogačar, Remco, or Bernal. If it's not in the next two, three years to make that progression to the sort of bigger results then it probably won't happen. But that being said, I'm still very happy to support the top guys around me," he added.

At 26 years of age, usually you'd find a rider who is yet to reach the peak of his career. Until about a decade ago, that was the norm, however in the last few years the younger generations have came up the ranks stronger and stronger, with riders coming out of under-23 or even junior ranks and already being competitive due to structured training in youth ranks. Knox has found himself in a position where despite his young age, he's been overshadowed by a generation which has taken over the cycling world.

Nevertheless, after facing some less good years since the pandemic started, he's signed a two-year contract with the Belgian team which secures his near future: “But like, we're in professional sport. I think I'd much rather be here than like, say a stock market broker in the City of London, working 18 hours a day doing six years of study and just grinding it out."

“It's not easy what we do, but to a certain extent, we're sort of blessed to be given this opportunity. It's a certain degree of natural talent and hard work. What percentage? We'll never know, but everyone who gets here works really, really hard. If you keep your head down, keep working hard," he added.

Having not started his season yet, it's unclear where James Knox's first appearance for the Quick-Step team will be this year. As for Grand Tours, the plans are not yet outlined aswell: "I’m not entirely sure yet. I’ve had my name on the line for all three so we’ll have to see how it pans out.”