The Official Website of the UCI Pro Series Stage Race, held in the Alps between Italy and Austria, through Tirol, Südtirol and Trentino (April 18-22, 2022)
An axis of potential disappointment with all young riders is that we expect them to progress over the years. Yet in 2025, everything is pretty set at young age.
their abilities are set by how big an ‘engine’ they got at the genes lottery, and all this has been already measured, all parameters are known;
strength was something you used to keep building for a number of years, as your body turned into a 100% adult man body, but now it is pretty useless given the gear ratios and cadence used, only final power output is important, no matter the slope;
experience: learning to listen to one’s body is almost useless now, almost everything is controlled by sensors and data;
experience: learning to feel the race was also replaced by earpieces and constant flows of information to the car and from the car;
technique: perhaps a bit of potential improvements for TT, but for the rest, they generally have learned most already, as well as how to evolve inside a peloton;
the only thing that young riders still lack is endurance, and that can be gained rather easily/quickly. There’s a risk of losing explosive strength in the process, but the risk is tiny, and anyway nobody wants to be limited to short races. 😀
I would say that after 20 years old, there won’t be many changes, these days. But in the case of Seixas who is only 18, even if I am right, that leaves around 2 years of potential progress!
Back in the “good” old days, young riders also needed a year or two of EPO to catch up to the peloton.
Anyway, I agree with some of your points, but I still think technique and experience with racing and races is super important. Unless you’re a phenomenon, you won’t win races unless you race smart.
Anyway, I agree with some of your points, but I still think technique and experience with racing and races is super important. Unless you’re a phenomenon, you won’t win races unless you race smart.
Yes, but most of the problematic cases we have seen in the last 5-10 years in that respect, were riders who came from other sports or from Zwift. Those who have been through the hectic races and pelotons of younger age categories and regional competitions generally adapt easily.
Concerning phenomenons, they already bar almost all major WT races 😃. This year, that will leave the Tour of Switzerland and the San-Sebastian classic; probably the Tour of Romandie too if Evenepoel keeps on sulking (but among those 3, 2 will probably fall in the hands of a phenomenon’s lieutenant anyway 😃).
So that leaves most minor WT, and most .Pro races (but not all of them). Oh, and stages on major WT stages races, which are probably even easier; that is, when the Pog doesn’t want them too…
I’ve been very impressed with Seixas. Can’t wait for him to disappoint me! 😉
An axis of potential disappointment with all young riders is that we expect them to progress over the years. Yet in 2025, everything is pretty set at young age.
the only thing that young riders still lack is endurance, and that can be gained rather easily/quickly. There’s a risk of losing explosive strength in the process, but the risk is tiny, and anyway nobody wants to be limited to short races. 😀
I would say that after 20 years old, there won’t be many changes, these days. But in the case of Seixas who is only 18, even if I am right, that leaves around 2 years of potential progress!
Back in the “good” old days, young riders also needed a year or two of EPO to catch up to the peloton.
Anyway, I agree with some of your points, but I still think technique and experience with racing and races is super important. Unless you’re a phenomenon, you won’t win races unless you race smart.
Yes, but most of the problematic cases we have seen in the last 5-10 years in that respect, were riders who came from other sports or from Zwift. Those who have been through the hectic races and pelotons of younger age categories and regional competitions generally adapt easily.
Concerning phenomenons, they already bar almost all major WT races 😃. This year, that will leave the Tour of Switzerland and the San-Sebastian classic; probably the Tour of Romandie too if Evenepoel keeps on sulking (but among those 3, 2 will probably fall in the hands of a phenomenon’s lieutenant anyway 😃).
So that leaves most minor WT, and most .Pro races (but not all of them). Oh, and stages on major WT stages races, which are probably even easier; that is, when the Pog doesn’t want them too…