2022 has been a strong year for Pello Bilbao, however the Bahrain - Victorious rider has nevertheless had some disappointments, which he has shared in a recent interview alongside his main targets for 2023.
"Without a doubt it has been my best year," Bilbao told in an extensive interview with Deia. "Even so, I think I'm still progressing and I haven't reached my maximum level. For me, being able to say that I've had my best season at 32 years old is the best of signs. Plus I feel like I can still improve it. I have been very regular throughout the season, not only in the specific moments of brilliance. It has been a year of consistency, with results throughout the campaign and being regular."
The Basque all-rounder finished 3rd at the UAE Tour, 5th at Strade Bianche, Itzulia Basque Country and Giro d'Italia, 9th at Tirreno-Adriatico, 3rd at the Tour de Pologne and 2nd at the Deutschland Tour. He's also taken wins at the Tour of the Alps and Deutschland, alongside a victory at the Itzulia where he outsprinted Julian Alaphilippe, the World Champion: "For me, it is a photo to frame. They are one of those victories that mark one," he said.
"If I'm not well I don't feel competitive and I don't see myself capable of enjoying the race. If I am at 70 or 80% it is impossible for me to enjoy the race," Bilbao admits. "I like to take advantage of all the competitions and I look for the opportunity to shine every time I put on a number. For that I have to be 100% or at least close to my best version. I don't like to approach races as preparation or training."
Indeed consistency was key for the Bahrain rider this year, who is currently in 16th position in the UCI World Ranking because of it. At the image of his compatriot and now retired Alejandro Valverde, Bilbao took advantage of his punchy, descending and sprinting skills to obtain several high-end results and wins from February to September. "Yes. I think that is what this cycling requires of us, to go out and win. No competition is given away. All the races are competed at a very high level, regardless of the category they are," the Basque added.
"The rhythm of the competition itself requires you to be in good shape in order to continue improving. We have gone from cycling that sought specific peaks to cycling that requires being in good shape all year round to be able to compete... Also, I don't like that model of betting everything on one goal or one card. I prefer to have a lot of options and since I enjoy competing and being in front, I prefer to be competitive all year long and try to reach all the objectives," he continued.
Bilbao finished his only Grand Tour of the season in 5th place whilst Mikel Landa rode to 3rd. "The truth is that I did not have a good taste in my mouth," he reveals however. "Not only for me, but also for Mikel. You have to value the podium, which is a great achievement, but the truth is that we had practically secured the podium a week before and we wanted to play to win. In that we were a bit far." Jai Hindley took home the pink jersey with Richard Carapaz in second place, Landa finished 3:24 minutes behind.
"Yes. If you don't innovate and you stay stagnant, the rest improve and you stay in the same place, ou don't advance," he said, revealing that his change in training has him on his best-ever level. "I think I'm going in the right direction. I will continue working in the same line. I have things to improve and I will continue deepening in it. I will also add strength work in the gym in a more specific way. It is about incorporating small details to improve."
For the coming season, he has plans in mind and plenty of ambitions: "The idea is to start strong and be competitive from the beginning. I will start in Australia (Tour Down Under, ed.) and then I will ride the Strade Bianche, the Itzulia and the Ardennes classics. I will try to be fit to compete from the beginning." Afterwards, he will target the Tour de France alongside Mikel Landa, as the duo will see a home Grand Depart in the Basque Country.
"Of course. It is something historical. We cannot miss the appointment. It is the first time that the Tour leaves from Bilbao and with all that cycling entails in the Basque Country it will be a party for everyone," he continued. "This land has given much to cycling: cyclists, teams, fans... so what better tribute than enjoying the start of the Tour. We will see a beautiful start with three stages through Euskadi that will give it a different touch at the beginning of the Tour, not so usual. We will live strong emotions. For Basque cyclists it is a gift that the Tour starts from here."
"I particularly like it because the difficulty is distributed from the first week to the third without letting the race be resolved in the second or third week. The first week will make some difference;" Bilbao said of the 2023 route which will favour the climbers more than traditionally.
"The fact that there are fewer kilometers against the clock seems to me to be correct on the part of the organization because today technology weighs so much that in the end the gap between the teams with large budgets and the rest is more noticeable in the time trials. I prefer that the capacity and ability of the cyclist count more and not so much the means at their disposal," he concluded.
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