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Hagens Berman Axeon is managed by Axel Merckx and has been investing in Portugal for five years
João Almeida (Deceuninck-QuickStep) and Rúben Guerreiro (Education First) have in common, in addition to shining in the Tour of Italy by bike, the passage through Hagens Berman Axeon, a “talent factory” that has been investing in Portugal for five years.
João Almeida, “pink jersey” for 15 and a quarter days in the general final, and Rúben Guerreiro, winner of the mountain classification, gave greater prominence to the team that this year, after 12 years of existence, managed to form the first winner of a great Volta, with the success of the British Tao Geoghegan Hart (INEOS) in the Giro.
The success of João Almeida and Rúben Guerreiro makes Axel Merckx “very proud”, explaining that it has “been a lot of fun and good to see that they are at such a high level”.
The history of Portuguese cyclists in Axeon began with Rúben Guerreiro, in 2015, and so far the success rate, that is, the number of cyclists placed in WorldTour, is 100%: after the now champion of the Giro de Montaña, the brothers Rui Oliveira and Ivo Oliveira went to UAE Emirates, João Almeida to Deceuninck-QuickStep and now André Carvalho to Cofidis.
Merckx confirms to Lusa that the team is “in the process of hiring another Portuguese cyclist”, to join Pedro Andrade, whom he hopes “to evolve and become a great cyclist in the future”, after having arrived “still very young” . , eager to learn and improve ”.
“I really like the Portuguese mentality. They bring a lot of seriousness, professionalism, with a lot of respect and a lot of desire, a lot of hunger, to learn, listen, improve and evolve. It is the best way to describe it. They really want to show that they can lead the team and evolve “to the next level,” says the training director.
In an interview with Lusa, the former cyclist, son of the “legendary” Eddy Merckx, explains that the team he owns today does a job that is “very difficult to describe.”
“When I had the opportunity to start the team and work with young people, the mentality that guided me was to create a team that I wanted to race for when I was a cyclist. I tried to take the positives out of my career and put them on the program, and eliminate the negative points, ”he explains.
Then there is an important “relationship that goes both ways” that must be developed between the structure and the corridors, because “one of the key factors is listening to the new generations and what they want.”
“I am very open and transparent, I do not see myself as the boss or the owner, but as part of the team. He has to work for both sides. I can give them experience and they bring passion and desire. It makes everyone work with a positive attitude ”, Reveals.
The fact that they work “without much pressure”, because the only thing that cyclists feel “is what they put on themselves”, and the creation of a relationship that “instead of demanding is more for stimulation” works to nurture talent and not an obsession with immediate results.
“I think this is a big part of our success. [Outra coisa é] cyclists help themselves and learn from each other. They improve faster, because they support each other and see the results that previous generations have been achieving. It is motivating ”, he assumes.
For the cyclist of the André Carvalho team, the more experienced of the two Portuguese, the success of the work “has to do with the conditions it gives to the cyclists.”
“It is no coincidence that many consider them the best U-23 team in the world. They treat us as if we were in WorldTour. At the same time, they manage not to put too much pressure on us, and I think that’s very important,” he says. in an interview with Lusa.
In the North American team in 2019 and 2020, and despite this atypical year due to the covid-19 pandemic, the Portuguese managed to “take the leap” and, in 2021, the Portuguese contingent in WorldTour will increase through the Cofidis door.
According to the Portuguese cyclist, Axeon brings “goals always well set” and a desire to instill in young people “the spirit of wanting to win”, helping them “to grow without having too much pressure”.
“Even more important is the schedule they have, it is very important to be able to participate in several races with WorldTour teams, in addition to the best world races for Sub 23. It makes us have to evolve,” he says.
Merckx, for its part, leaves high praise for yet another rider who launches for WorldTour, a goal, but only if it is “to race WorldTour for many years”.
“André is a cyclist and a person I really enjoyed working with. He never complains, he is always positive, he works hard and had the most pressure this year, he was the oldest. Without many races, he showed that he was willing to make a difference in the race. team and in the race. It is something very valuable for Cofidis in the future “, analyzes Axel Merckx.
Describing the team as “more of a big family than anything else” – something that can be noticed even with old riders keeping in touch – the Belgian notes that a “generational change” is taking place.
“There is a new generation that is very hungry and very excited. It is a benefit and an incentive for the teams that made them evolve, and I am not referring only to me, but to all the teams that train cyclists. There are substructures for juniors in many countries, almost professional, and all this makes them improve sooner. But you have to be careful not to press too hard and too soon ”, he warns.
The success of the countless cyclists who underwent this training, which started as a Trek satellite team, associated with Livestrong, and now works independently, ends up feeding the little ones, but also other elements of the “family” .
“They think that if others did it, and if they know the mindset and training that got them there, they can too. It’s motivating and encouraging for everyone. I get messages from riders who were part of the program, but never made it to WorldTour, who they claim to be “. inspired by João, Rúben, Ivo, Rui. It’s a very interesting dynamic, ”he says.
After a Giro in which everyone was “really excited about João” and then happy for Geoghegan Hart, Hagens Berman Axeon hopes that this media attention, achieved by the team’s alumni, can serve to secure new partners and sponsorships. at a time when operating at the same level as in recent years is at risk.
“We will continue, in one way or another. Unfortunately, at the moment, we are not like in other years. I am in talks with partners to get other conditions. Right now, we have a team that can participate in races. It is the minimum, but for me not enough, “he shoots.
The success of the various names mentioned, but also of the Russian Alexandr Vlasov (Astana) or the Ecuadorian Jhonatan Narváez (Education First), “certainly helps” to look at this work with different eyes.
“They come from where all those names came from, what we have managed to do in these 12 years. It is positive, but at the end of the day, what we need are sponsors and those who create and invest in our future ”, he concludes.
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