Davide Cimolai on modern cycling: constant pressure, burnout risks, and only Pogacar and Van der Poel spared
Retired Italian rider Davide Cimolai has warned that modern cycling’s constant pressure is fuelling burnout risks, arguing that only rare exceptions like Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel seem spared. Speaking to Spazio Ciclismo, he reflected on how dramatically the sport has changed in recent years.
When asked whether burnout is a concern in today's cycling, Cimolai didn't hesitate. "Yes, this is not big news. If I had been a great champion, I wouldn't have thought twice about retiring at a very high level. I would have done it at the peak of my career, regardless of the stress of cycling," said Cimolai to Spazio Ciclismo.
The 34-year-old pointed to the radical shift that has taken place in professional cycling, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the sport in 2020. What was once a more measured approach to building form throughout the season has been replaced by relentless intensity from race one.
"Having experienced the radical change of recent years, especially after Covid, I understand that it is hard, both physically and mentally," Cimolai explained. "Once, to prepare for Milan-Sanremo, you still arrived at the Tirreno-Adriatico at 80 or 90%. Now, at the first race of the year the good professional must be in shape, otherwise you risk not finishing it or lengthening the recovery time."
That shift has created an environment where riders are under constant pressure to perform at their peak, with little room for building form gradually through early-season races. The consequences of arriving underprepared are immediate and harsh.
"This applies to practically everyone, except phenomena such as Van der Poel and Pogačar," Cimolai noted, highlighting how only the sport's most exceptional talents seem immune to the grinding demands.
Beyond the racing calendar and intensity, Cimolai pointed to another area where the demands have ratcheted up, and that was nutrition and body composition management.
"Then a lot has also changed in nutrition. You have to be on the ball all the time," he said, referencing the increasingly strict dietary protocols and weight management that modern professional cycling demands.
Gone are the days when riders could ease into the season with a few extra kilos to shed. Now, arriving at January training camps in race weight is expected, adding another layer of year-round pressure to an already demanding profession.
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