'The goal was to create something completely different' - Andorra Cycling Masters aims to shake up cycling

Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic, and Isaac Del Toro will compete in the inaugural Andorra Cycling Masters on October 19th, a competition that combines a time trial up the Coll de la Gallina with a city circuit race in Andorra la Vella.

The event, first announced on September 29th via Instagram, bills itself as a "historic showdown" where the four champions will compete "man-to-man, no teams, no excuses" to determine "who is the true master of the mountains."

"The goal was to create something completely different from what we've ever seen before," says Betim Budzaku, general manager of the Andorra Tourist Board and one of the driving forces behind the project, to Nieuwsblad. "Four champions competing individually, without the help of a team. Andorra has a very good reputation among cyclists; 150 riders live there."

What makes the event particularly notable is that a documentary will capture the entire experience. "From the moment they arrive in Andorra until they return home, the riders will be filmed with their families," Budzaku explains. "This way, fans can see the human side of the riders and learn how they prepare for such races. The idea is to let people see a race from a different perspective."

The resulting 50-55 minute documentary will be released on an international streaming platform in the coming weeks, though Budzaku couldn't yet reveal which one.

Securing such high-profile participants after their demanding seasons wasn't the challenge many might expect. "The problem wasn't convincing them to participate, because they were on board from the start," Budzaku reveals. "The difficult part was finding a date that worked for everyone."

The organisers specifically targeted Pogacar as "the man of the moment" and were eager to include Del Toro because "the Latin American market is important to us," according to Budzaku.

Belgian star Remco Evenepoel was actually the first rider approached for the event. "He was also interested, but his schedule didn't permit it," says Budzaku. "If it's a success on Sunday, we might make it a tradition, and then in the future, there will also be Belgians on the entry list. It's inevitable, with such a country with such a rich cycling culture."

The concept had been in development for two years, but scheduling conflicts prevented it from happening sooner. "Ultimately, you have to persevere and have a bit of luck if it works out," Budzaku concludes.