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A professional cyclist in the Sierra de Guara. Today on BGuara we have a special guest, Sergio Samitier, a professional cyclist with the Movistar Team. Few cyclists manage to break into the professional ranks, and even fewer make it into Spain’s leading team, but Sergio has done just that. He is already a legend in his hometown, Barbastro, and in the Sierra de Guara, where he trains regularly. Thanks to him, many children have taken up cycling, and we discuss this in the interview.
Interview with Sergio Samitier
For those who don’t know you, where are you from? What sport do you play, and which team are you on?
Barbastro, Road cycling and Movistar Team.
Are you pleased that things have returned to some semblance of normality this year in terms of the schedule?
Yes, of course. Almost all the races have been rescheduled, and although some dates have had to be changed, they’ve still gone ahead. I’m also pleased because spectators are gradually returning to the races, and for us, having the fans’ support is important – after all, we’re cycling for them.
How did you cope with last year’s lockdown? Were you able to train?
Well, all the races were cancelled, but we knew that once the lockdown was over, we’d have about a month before we could start competing again. So in that sense I was relaxed, knowing I had time to get back in shape; even so, thanks to platforms like Zwift (smart trainers), training at home was great fun, almost like playing a video game.
I was also reassured that our sponsor, Movistar in this case, would be staying with us and that I still had another year left on my contract. So I went through it all with relative calm.
Which races would you highlight on your calendar this year? Any that you’ve particularly enjoyed?
Well, it’s been a strange year, with all the build-up to the Tour de France that I didn’t end up doing. I’d focused all my training on that, but in the end I didn’t go; still, I’m pleased with my performances in the Tour de Suisse and the Giro d’Italia.
You’ve had some outstanding performances in certain races. Which key moment stands out for you?
The 2020 Giro was tough (the toughest race I’ve ever done), but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
What has been your main goal this season?
To improve my sporting ability and aim to ride the Tour.
And what is Sergio Samitier’s “unspoken” goal? A stage win in the Tour? Beat Sagan in a sprint? Will he play for longer than Valverde?
To win a stage in one of the three Grand Tours – though even just one would do for me;)
When did you realise you could become a professional?
Back when I was racing as an amateur in the Under-23 category with the Lizarte team, I put in two years of hard work to achieve it.
Do you go running in the Sierra de Guara?
Yes, quite often.
What are your favourite places in the Sierra de Guara for training? Why? Is there a particular route in the Sierra de Guara that you like best?
I train in the Sierra de Guara because it’s quite close to home and has the kind of mountainous terrain I need for my training sessions.
To be honest, it’s the perfect place for mountain bike trails during the off-season, and during the season I use the Naval–Alto del Pino area quite a lot for that specific training; there have been times when I’ve climbed Alto del Pino as many as ten times. Then there’s the Colungo–Lecina–Betorz area, which I also visit frequently.
I do wish there were longer mountain passes; wouldn’t it be great if one day the road up to MesĂ³n de Sevil in Alquezar were tarmacked? One can dream… I’m sure it would also attract lots of cycle tourists during other months when there might not be as many visitors, but of course it’s a major investment…
But overall, it’s a good area for training. There’s a route I really like, though I only do it once a year as it’s quite a long ride; it’s what we cyclists call the Vuelta Guara. It’s actually one of the routes featured on the Sierra de Guara cycling route portal, BGuara:
Barbastro – Naval – Abizanda – Lamata – Las Bellotas – Laguardera – Nocito – ArguĂs – Nueno – ApiĂ©s – Aguas… a route that literally circles the entire Sierra de Guara.
I’ll share it with you, although at 230–240 km it’s not for everyone, hehe.
https://bguara.com/ruta/carretera/vuelta-a-guara/
This summer you launched the Sergio Samitier Summer Camp for children and it was a huge success. How was the experience? How many boys and girls took part?
The children’s camp was a huge success; it was a proper camp, as the kids stayed overnight and spent the whole week together in Graus. It was packed with boys and girls eager to get out on their bikes.
In the mornings we went cycling, and in the afternoons we did all the usual camp activities: paintball, river activities, swimming, climbing, workshops, games, night-time treasure hunts, night-time bike rides… It was great fun, to be honest, and I was lucky enough to be able to join them for the whole week.
All the kids had a great time and will be back for more. I hope we can double the number of children next year, as we only had about 60 this year due to COVID.
When it comes to nutrition, does someone from the team help you? Or do you handle it all yourself? Are you under a lot of pressure?
Professional cycling these days requires a meticulously planned diet; we have several nutritionists on the team who plan everything for us. It’s no longer just a diet as such; it’s a way of life.
You really notice the difference in terms of performance, although I must admit that every now and then I treat myself – it’s not the same preparing for a Tour as it is once you’ve finished it. You’ve got to give your mind a bit of a break too, even if it’s just a little.
Which type of cyclist do you identify with most? A classics specialist, a climber, a stage hunter, or an ‘uphill finisher’?
Climber.
Who do you usually share a room with at the training camps of the team?
It depends on the race, but usually I run with runners I’ve known for ages, like my friend and fellow runner from Alto Aragon, Jorge Arcas.
Although I remember that at my first Movistar training camp they put me in a room with Valverde – I was absolutely blown away, of course… I must have made a good impression on him, because from then on he kept asking to share a room with me! A real honour for me, of course, haha. So I spent the season between Arcas and Valverde.
Which player do you learn the most from within the team?
A bit from everyone, especially the more experienced players: Erviti, Bala, Rojas… but you also learn a lot from the managers and the coaching staff.
Finally, what advice would you give to young people who are just starting out in competition – advice that you wish someone had given you?
They should treat it as a hobby and enjoy it without neglecting their studies. I know that’s what people always say, but only three or four professional cyclists emerge each year across the whole of Spain; it’s really hard to make it this far, let alone stay there. You have to put in loads of hours, have a bit of luck, surround yourself with the right people, and even then it’s very difficult. Enjoy cycling, the people who make this scene tick, the scenery, the nature it offers, but make sure you study and don’t get obsessed with becoming a professional.
If they spent all that time studying, they could get much more stable jobs, where they’d earn more money, and have the free time to go cycling without any pressure, stopping off for fried eggs and sausage for breakfast đŸ˜‰
Anything else to add?
Thank you for including me in this feature in your magazine – an area that’s 100% worth visiting for sports, whether it’s cycling, hiking, canyoning… and I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to discover, enjoy and look after our mountains.
