On SIC Notícias’ “Ontem já era tarde” podcast, Rubén Guerreiro talked about a variety of topics related to his cycling career. He covered everything from his early years to his first rides as a federated mountain biker, including the year he won the title of king of the mountain at the 2020 Giro d’Italia, to the present, where he has just finished another season riding for the Spanish Movistar Team.

In his early years, the now-Movistar rider gave up football to pursue cycling. He admitted, “I trained at Samora Correia,” and continued playing for other clubs until he was 14 years old, when he realised that he was happier on two wheels than in football. “My dad rode a bicycle. I would be talking to myself if I discussed the Tour de France with my buddies. The only sport they enjoyed was football. At the age of 15, I participated in my first federated race, although I had already completed a few half marathons and marathons with the guys who enjoy riding on Sundays as non-federated riders.

Because “I went abroad when I was 20 and had people who helped me and I went to the United States, where I did my training and was able to compete with the best cyclists in the world at the under-23 level and some elites, which was fundamental to my development,” he immigrated early and joined Axel Merckx’s Axeon team. Realising that “there’s a huge difference between abroad and Portugal in this sport,” I said, “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t taken that step.”

He excelled in the transalpine mountains during the 2020 Giro d’Italia, when he took home the blue jersey, which is a sign of a mountain leader.I prefer going downward. I enjoy climbing if I’m in decent physical condition. Your physical, mental, and athletic performance must be flawless. To be competitive at the highest level, you need to have all three of these qualities in addition to the bike and the team surrounding you.

I can’t go out for a night because else my body will pay for that night for weeks,” he remembers, “since the life of a professional cyclist is quite rigid.” He also says that you can’t eat anything you want. Whether you’re a sprinter, climber, or time trialist, your carbohydrate needs vary from rider to rider, so nutrition is crucial,” he said.

Lance Armstrong was my childhood idol

He was asked to remark on the Slovenian rider’s standing in cycling after the discussion shifted to Tadej Pogacar, who has had a tremendous season, and the parallels with Merckx. “The outcomes are visible. His season has been among the greatest in history. I knew him at a young age; he was never on my squad, but we could tell he was unique and had skill. I only defeated him once in our multiple races. We could tell that he had a unique gift, and the truth is that he has gotten better every year. He truly is one of the greatest cyclists of all time; he has defeated us in the one-day Classics, the one-week races, and the Grand Tours.

“As cycling is such a raw and unpredictable sport, we always have that idea, that little voice of suspicion,” the Portuguese said in reference to the doping allegations that have been levelled at Pogacar following this wildly successful season. Because he was a champion in life due to a serious illness (testicular cancer, ed.) and because he interacted with the media more than anybody else, Armstrong left a significant legacy. He was incredibly intelligent and a flag. He left the sport in a terrible manner, leaving a large void.

“Lance Armstrong resembled a hero from a movie. a benchmark for all of his accomplishments, both in and outside of riding. Ruben Guerreiro laments, “I thought my hero had been lying all his life.”