'Proximity to danger' a fear for Pello Bilbao - "Taking risks becomes more and more difficult"

Pello Bilbao was a teammate and friend of the late Gino Mäder. In a recent interview he talked about the donation campaign he's still supporting for an ecological cause thinking of the Swiss rider, memories together and also some expectations ahead of the 2025 season.

"I prefer to think that, if he were still among us, he would be well known today and could spread his ideas and commitments," Bilbao told Raiz regarding his former teammate who lost his life after crashing at the 2023 Tour de Suisse.

"It's true that we didn't have the same schedule and that we didn't have time to become very close friend, but, during the time spent together, I saw that we had similar concerns, that the same things affected us, that we had interests that went beyond sport... That left a mark on me. Perhaps it's sad to say, but many athletes don't have these concerns. We are often a little selfish, because our sport is very absorbing and we isolate ourselves a little from the world around us".

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Bilbao was present at that race and was one of those who got hit the hardest, and the Basque veteran understands that the sport is quite dangerous and that the fears that come with that danger can very well cut his career shorter than what he would otherwise want. "We have all lost loved ones, friends, colleagues... It is very hard, but death is part of life. In addition, our sport involves a certain amount of risk. I am very aware of this, and it has made me think about certain things."

"For example, in another sport, perhaps I would extend my career until I am 42, because I have an immense passion for what I do. But with this proximity to danger and the feeling of responsibility towards my family, it is likely that I will stop earlier. Taking risks becomes more and more difficult. Our mentality changes with age."

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Objectively speaking, the 34-year old had quite a nice season (specially when taking into consideration the astonishing evolution of the new generation) but he only raced the Tour de France out of all Grand Tours, which he had to abandon prematurely, therefore missing out on some desired results. "It hasn't been the best season. I felt that I was physically in very good shape, but the results didn't reflect it. I wanted to but I wasn't there at the key moments, that's how I felt."

"For 2025, everything is still open, but my intention, in principle, is to focus on the Giro rather than the Tour. And then, the most usual races, in general, those that are repeated every year: the UAE Tour, the Vuelta [a España], the Ardennes classics... I don't think there will be many changes in the usual calendar, and then, we'll have to see if I do the Giro or the Tour".

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