The Spanish "grandpa" defies rumours of retirement and signs a new contract at the age of 50!
Cycling
A few weeks ago it was published in many media his retirement and he himself had to come forward on social networks to deny the news, making it clear that it was possible that he would hang up the bike, but that he was looking for a team. And he has found it. Thus, the legendary Francisco Mancebo will continue racing at the age of 50 at least one more season with a new deal reportedly closed.
According to Marca, the Spaniard, who will enter the fifth decade of his life next March 2026, has committed to the Chinese continental team Pingtan International Tourism Island Cycling Team.
Mancebo will therefore continue to race mostly in Asia - a cycling scene that has become his second home over the past decade. But racing in China will nevertheless be a new experience for Mancebo as he moves over from Japan, where he spent seven seasons with the Matrix Powertag for which he had still been able to win occasionally at double the age of his opponents.
Mancebo began his career in late 1990s with Banesto (now Movistar Team) and after falling out of favor in 2006 following his time with AG2R, he has been around the world non-stop and will continue to do so for at least one more season, in the style of his peer Oscar Sevilla who will likewise celebrate his 50th birthday in the saddle, racing for the Colombian Team Medellín-EPM.
Better results
Among his best results are his two victories in the general classification of the Vuelta a Castilla y León (2000 and 2003), as well as his overall victory in the Vuelta a Burgos in 2002. That same year he also won the Clásica a los Puertos and, shortly after, the Classique des Alpes (2003), one of his most prestigious victories outside Spain.
In the grand tours, Mancebo reached the podium of the Vuelta a España in 2004, where he finished third, and a creditable fourth place at the 2005 Tour de France, confirming his ability to shine in the most demanding races of the calendar. In that same season, he achieved a stage victory in the Vuelta a España and two second places in stages between 2004 and 2005.
Endless career of Paco Mancebo (Imago)
He also won stage races of lesser renown but of great competitive level, such as the Vuelta a Asturias (2009) and the Vuelta a Chihuahua Internacional (2007 and 2008). In the United States he also won a stage victory in the Amgen Tour of California (2009). His most recent victory came in the first stage of Tour du Sahel in Mauritania at the start of this season.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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