Demands of being a pro cyclist will lead to early retirements, Visma rider argues - "At one point I started turning down family dinners"

Being a pro cyclist is an incredibly difficult job, and a complete lifestyle. However it feels like more and more in modern times riders are forced to take up the ultra-professional habits from a very young age, and a few in the peloton believe this will lead to widespread early retirements. Tosh van der Sande of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, hanging up the wheels this year at age 34, certainly argues that this could affect anyone - even Tadej Pogacar or Remco Evenepoel who already came up during this time.

“In 2011, I still had the luxury of waiting, but today's young people can't do that anymore. It all happens so fast. The big difference is that, compared to my time, young riders are already much more professional," Van der Sande said in words to Het Nieuwsblad. This leads riders to reach the peak of their careers earlier, and also means that there is a constant flow of new young riders taking up the top positions in the sport, whilst there is no longer a steep age barrier between the top riders and the newcomers.

The Belgian, a pro since 2012 with his entire career at World Tour level, is surprised to see how early on riders are taking up altitude training: “There are even newcomers who go on altitude training camps now. I was 30 when I did my first altitude training camp. And believe me, altitude training camps are boring. They have a huge impact on your fitness, that's for sure. But a training camp like that is just training, eating, and sleeping. And not just one week, but three weeks in a row.”

Van der Sande spend almost a decade with the Lotto team and in 2022 moved to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Here he found an even bigger level of professionalism, in the team that would go on to win the Tour de France that year, and all Grand Tours the next one. But that improvement in performance at that age doesn't come without its consequences.

“You are so focused on nutrition that you push yourself to the limit. At one point I started turning down family dinners because I had to weight my food," he admits. "And if I still wanted to be present at a family gathering, I would bring my own food, while the rest of the family was enjoying something tasty".

He was in the top ranks for 14 full seasons, but he sees that diminishing: "You could say that a career of ten years is about average for professionals. I'm pretty sure that will decrease in the future.”

However even in the end of his career, with a smaller role, he has helped guide some of the Dutch team's biggest talents. "A little pat on the back can work wonders. Olav Kooij and Matthew Brennan, for example, say that without me, they wouldn't be where they are today. That really means something to you."