The motto of the Mussara events, one of the main brands of national cycling tours, reads: ‘Professionally Amateurs’. A philosophy of life that encompasses the essence of those who participate in events such as Mussara Donostia – San Sebastián or Mussara Salou. This motto embraces those passionate amateurs who, with a spirit worthy of professionals, find in these marches the perfect setting to enjoy their love for cycling.
But it goes further: it also focuses on retired professionals who, once they have hung up their competition bicycles, discover in these tests the opportunity to relive the excitement and camaraderie that characterize the world of cycling. This practice is increasingly widespread and it is common to see active or recently retired cyclists taking the start of the marches, in theory, amateurs.
The most striking example may be that of Alejandro Valverde. One of the most important and awarded Spanish cyclists in history who, after his retirement, has participated in various marches in which he has shown that he has not lost one bit of the class he had as a WorldTour.
Valverde’s case is paradigmatic, as he has also gained experience in disciplines other than the road, such as gravel. A marriage, between Murcia and gravel, that has already been anticipated by different people from the world of cycling. In an interview with the Mussara cycling brand organization, the Spanish road cycling coach, Pascual Momparler, spoke of Valverde’s promising future off the road: “he is going to surprise more than one.”
The 2018 road world champion is not the only one who has dared to try new formats. Cyclists who until just a few months ago were in the best road pelotons in the world have been seen in tests of different formats.
Luis León Sánchez, who is still contractually linked to the Astana team, has already ventured into road and mountain bike tourism. The man from Muleño has been an ambassador for the L’Étape Madrid by Tour de France presented by UNIVERSAE and has started in two different Titan World Series events.
In that sense, Valverde’s former teammate at Movistar, Lluís Mas, has already dared to try mountainbike tests, despite having finished his participation in La Vuelta a Burgos just a few months ago.
And what to say about Haimar Zubeldia? The Spanish cyclist with the most participations in the history of the Tour is already reaping successes among mountainbike and road cyclists. He has even served as ambassador of the Mussara Donostia – San Sebastián on two occasions.
What drives a veteran or recently retired cyclist to continue participating in events of this type? Marches in which the small platoons of professionals and the thousands of people cheering from the sidelines change for more massive formats in participation, although humble in their infrastructure.
For Luis Ángel Maté, a cyclist from Euskaltel Euskadi who has had bibs in mountainbike races, contact with the fan is essential: “Professional cycling has become tremendously hermetic and distant from people. Coming to a non-professional career allows me to share time with people who embody those values ??in which I believe. Those of the bicycle as synonymous with effort, sacrifice and social factor.”
In the case of Lluís Mas, the key to signing up for these tests is to maintain shape with training that is far from the usual: “Mountain biking, for example, allows me to get out of the daily routine of training in the same ports and the same roads as always. . Going for a five-hour stretch in the mountains is a joy and allows me to stay motivated.”
Zubeldia himself highlights these outings among fans. “In Mussara Donostia – San Sebastián, for example, there is a very nice atmosphere. The people are very knowledgeable. He knows how to measure himself, shoot, stop at the aid stations and group up. There is a lot of bicycle culture,” he explains in an interview he gave to the Mussara organization.
Whatever the reason, from the proximity to the amateur, the possibility of enjoying quality training or exploring disciplines other than the usual ones, it is clear that the worlds of professionalism and cycling tourism are increasingly in closer contact.
