One of the most experienced cyclists in the entire peloton, 37-year-old Geraint Thomas, has seen a huge change in the attitude of cyclists during his long World Tour career.
“It’s completely different. It’s like a junior or under-23 race”, says the former Tour de France winner via Red Bull’s Just Ride podcast.
“There is less respect for each other. Everyone goes where they want, cutting each other off, whereas before there was a fight for position, but it was calmer. Now it’s just crazy.”
Hierarchy within the platoon was respected
There was an unwritten rule within the platoon that established a hierarchy of respect. Now, that old order has been completely discarded, according to Thomas.
“That respect and that hierarchy in the peloton, it was a good thing in a way, but now it’s every man for himself, dog-eat-dog,” he explains. “You have to join them, really.”
Platoon changes
“It used to be calmer, but nowadays it’s basically intense from kilometer zero, from start to finish,” continues the INEOS Grenadiers veteran.
“You see it as four or five hours of concentration. You used to be able to have a conversation with your friends or whatever, but now you’re in the pressure zone for four or five hours, and then you talk. That’s how it is.”
Adapt to survive
As Thomas says, he has to adapt to continue thriving and surviving.
“I think the whole peloton is more professional, whereas in the past it was just the top 40, 50, but now 300 guys are training correctly, eating correctly, doing altitude training.”
“The whole team looks after all their riders, not just the top three or four, so the depth is much better.”
“The sport is changing all the time, which is good, but as a more experienced cyclist, you have to adapt to it. If I was just thinking ‘this is what I did 10 years ago’ then I wouldn’t be able to compete, you have to adapt”, concluded the Brit.
