‘Europe hits you in the face’ - NSN talent Zac Marriage on learning alongside Froome and surviving the pro peloton
In the latest episode of the Domestique Hotseat podcast, Zac Marriage speaks about his first months among the professionals. The Australian rider from Adelaide has made the jump from the domestic circuit to Europe and quickly discovered that talent alone is not enough.
Zac Marriage describes his first proper European races as a reality check. “In Australia, you can solve a lot with good legs,” he says in the podcast. “In Europe, everyone has good legs. The difference is positioning and experience.”
The 22-year-old rider had to adjust to narrow roads, nervous finales and the constant fight for position. Back home, he was used to simply moving up when needed. In Europe, he found that approach no longer works.
“Sometimes you don’t even speak the same language as the riders around you. Everyone is fighting for the same spot.”
His move to Israel Premier-Tech (Now NSN Cycling Team) as a stagiaire suddenly placed him alongside major names. At a training camp, he rode next to Chris Froome and Simon Clarke.
“You’re just sitting there in the wheels with them,” Marriage recalls. “Those are moments where you have to pinch yourself.”
Even more instructive were his conversations with Michael Woods. Woods entered professional cycling later than most and faced similar challenges in the peloton. “He has really developed processes to deal with that chaos. That’s something I’m trying to take on board.”
Interestingly, Marriage does not place his strongest memories in Europe, but in Africa. At the Tour du Rwanda, he was struck by the passion along the roadside. “During recon rides, people were already five deep on the climbs. You hardly see that anywhere else.”
He describes young fans asking for bottles and running alongside the riders, not out of entitlement but pure excitement. “That energy is contagious. It reminds you why you do this.”
Marriage is realistic about his situation in the peloton. He currently rides for the development team and knows he has to deliver in order to move up. “In my mind, I have one year to show I’m at WorldTour level.”
That means targeting races that suit him and producing results there, with the ultimate ambition to start at the Tour de France one day.
Still, what stands out most is not pressure but hunger. “You get your head kicked in often enough in this peloton,” he says matter of factly. “But that’s part of it. Even the best don’t win everything.”
Listen to the full Hotseat podcast with Zac Marriage 👇
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