Pello Bilbao (Bahrain Victorious) had a very good year in 2024. He notably finished third in theUAE Tour in February, 2nd of GP Montreal3rd you Tour of Slovenia and 9th of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He also participates in Tour de Francewhere he was forced to retire during the 12th stage. Looking towards 2025, this time it will participate in the Tour of Italyin a year where his team aims to bounce back after a disappointing 2024 season. Bahrain Victorious has in fact only won 13 victories, including only 4 in World Tourthe third lowest total in its history. The team ofAntonio Tiberi5th from last Giroand the new French recruit Lenny Martinezwill be considerably rejuvenated in 2025, to hope to return to the top 10 of the UCI rankings.
Video – Bilbao, only beaten by Pogacar at the Montreal GP
“This year we faced many problems”
Before 2025 where he intends to participate in the recovery of the team, Pello Bilbao discusses the reasons for this difficult year for him and his team with Relief : “The counter is now at zero. The atmosphere in the team is much better. The lack of results stressed us a bit last year, but we have turned the page and we can focus on the goals ahead. Of course, this season was disappointing compared to the previous one. In 2023, we outperformed, everything seemed to be going well for us. On the other hand, this year we faced many problems: injuries and illnesses hit key riders at times. the most critical.
If the Basque likes Tour de Francewhere he won a stage in 2023 and finished 6th overall, he admits to having a particular attachment to the Girowhich suits him better according to him. He has indeed already shined, as in 2022 and 2020 where he finished in the top 5 of the general classification: “I'm really motivated to come back to the Giro. It's the Grand Tour where I feel the most comfortable, you could even say in my element. The Tour has brought me a lot; the stage victory there at two years old gave me arguably the strongest emotions I have ever felt in Cycling. However, the Giro has always had a special place in my heart. It is a race that gives me more opportunities to. run in my own way… playing a secondary role, attacking from a distance without being linked to the battle for the general, and seeking stage victories.”
