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Diego Ballesteros. Today, 3 December, is International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
No one embodies this motto better than Diego Ballesteros. A native of Barbastro and a cycling enthusiast, he has never stopped embarking on adventures and competing on his handbike. BGuara spoke to him on International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Who is Diego Ballesteros?
I am a resident of Barbastro, a retired secondary school teacher who was left in a wheelchair following a road accident; despite the difficulties, I strive to be happy and try to bring joy to those around me.
Questions for Diego Ballesteros
What else do you spend your time on apart from training?
To family, household chores such as cooking and shopping, and resting when they let me.
Tell us about the adventures you’ve had on your bike. And on your handbike?
I cycled from Zaragoza to Beijing, covering 12,822 km over 100 days and passing through 15 countries – an adventure that changed my life. Then came the Titan Desert and the Race Across America, a non-stop race that crosses the United States from coast to coast, where I was hit by a car and ended up in a wheelchair.
On my handbike, I cycled from Madrid to London – 1,800 km powered by my arms – to overcome my disability and prove to myself that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
Have you competed this season? Which result would you highlight?
Yes, I’ve been competing regularly since 2011, and despite the pandemic, we haven’t stopped. In 2021, I won a bronze medal in the time trial at the Spanish Adapted Cycling Championship, as well as several bronzes in international events like Bilbao and Cáceres. Gold and silver still elude me.
I’d highlight the bronze in the national time trial, where I finished just behind the two cyclists who went to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
How has the pandemic affected the races? Has a degree of normality been restored this year?
Many races were postponed, and we were only able to compete in the most important ones, such as the Spanish Championships. We have now returned to normal, and the Spanish Cup and a few other events have been held, albeit under strict safety measures.
What have your goals been this season? Is there a secret goal you haven’t told anyone about?
In 2021, I would have liked to go to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics held in September. It was tough, but you have to set big goals to keep improving.
I was just behind the two cyclists who went, which shows I’m not that far from achieving that dream. I have no dark secrets; I work hard to aim for the top.
Do you enjoy training in the Sierra de Guara?
I love it. I certainly live in a privileged part of the world, surrounded by hills and beautiful countryside. In the summer and at weekends, I find it hard to cope when there are lots of tourists, but I have my own quiet routes where I’m not a danger to anyone.
What are your favourite places? Why?
I really like Alquezar and the surrounding area; I enjoy training on the old road that climbs up to Adahuesa and then down through Radiquero. Sometimes I make it as far as Bierge, although I try to find stretches with few bends where cars and cyclists can share the road safely.
How far do you usually run when you go out for a run?
I usually cover between 40 and 50 km a day, but depending on the time of year and the total elevation gain, I can sometimes cover up to 100 km a day; at other times, I just go out for a 20 km ride to enjoy the scenery.
What’s your routine on a tough training day?
My toughest training days are when I do double or triple training sessions – for example, three hours on the bike in the morning, an hour and a half in the gym, plus another hour on the bike to wind down. Doing double sessions is common, but triple sessions aren’t so common.
What are the most common problems when training with a handbike?
They’re the same as with any ordinary bike – a puncture or a mechanical problem – although thanks to technological advances, these are becoming less and less common. Then I get scared when I’m lying down so low, as cars speed past; some lose concentration and others say they can’t see me, even though I’m wearing lights and flags.
What is the current state of adapted cycling in Spain? Does it receive sufficient support? Is it promoted? Are the races well organised? Is there a wide-ranging calendar of events?
Adapted cycling is a minority sport that is gaining more followers every day, as many of us have disabilities.
Support is never enough, as races take place all over the country—Murcia, Extremadura, Galicia, etc. Covering travel and accommodation costs to compete in a competition like the Spanish Cup, which involves many events, is enormous. That’s why I decided to compete less but better, so I travel across Europe to different World Cups to measure myself against high-level rivals.
And what about at a local level? Is there any evidence of this? Is it easy to find sponsors?
At a local level, in the Aragon Cycling Championships, this has been the first year that adapted cycling has been included, and it’s a huge step forward, although personally I think that any cycling event could make room for us, either by shortening the route or adapting it slightly to our needs.
Sponsors are always hard to come by; we’re not the sort of people who offer a quick return on investment. I think it’s wonderful to work with someone who, despite the challenges life throws at them, sets an example and never gives up, doing their absolute best to achieve their dreams.
Do you think adapted cycling is given enough recognition? What ideas do you have for raising its profile?
It is difficult to answer this question, as any athlete who practises a less mainstream sport – such as petanque, for example – might feel that they are not valued. The thing is, adapted cycling demands enormous physical effort and many hours of training, just like any other sport, but with greater physical strain; pedalling with your hands is not the same as pedalling with your legs or with just one leg, yet the hours of training and the effort required are very similar.
The key to raising the profile of these sports lies in the media’s sensitivity; we should continue to talk about football, but make more room for other sports.
Are you planning any handbike adventures in the near future?
Yes, but once I’ve retired from competition. There’s no doubt that adventure is where I feel most at home, so I’ll be back.
Anything else to add?
Thank you for raising awareness of adapted cycling, and I hope we can do more interviews where I can tell you about the dreams I’m achieving. Best regards.
