Listening to Juan David Sierra speak is deceiving, not so much for the arguments he brings up or the clarity with which he dissects them, but because he's doing all this at just 19 years old. In a few days, he'll turn 20 (on January 25), yet the young man who grew up in the Ciclistica Biringhello team seems to have clear ideas. The first year with the I have to team up of Tudor Pro Cycling he placed it in front of some steps, he's slowly climbed them all. Knowing the climb isn't over yet, Sierra is ready to get back to work. In fact, he already has.
"Before Christmas," he tells us, "I was in Spain, on a training camp with the team. During the winter months, the team rents a villa where the riders can go to train. Between December 13th and 24th I was there together with half of my teammatesWe trained a lot and had fantastic weather."
Contact with the pros'
Sierra He speaks calmly and analytically. 2024 was a year for him. important year, his arrival in the Tudor development team led him to grow a lot. From the first months he saw from the inside what it means to race among the professionalsHe did it in the Mallorca races last January, and then again at the end of the season with two high-caliber experiences. First the Sparkassen Musterland and then the Paris-Tours.
«The races I did with the professional team – says Sierra – were fantastic experiences that I didn't expect to have so soon. The first race I took part in was the Vuelta a MurciaThe team immediately sent me on the run, it was a baptism of fire but interesting nonetheless. The next day at the Clasica de Almeria the group checked the progress of the raceIt felt like I was watching the race on television. With 20 kilometers to go, the teams were already positioned for the sprint. I was there, in the middle, I could feel the tension building from the radio as the riders I usually admired from afar passed me by.».
What role did you play?
Always supportive. Even at the Sparkassen Munsterland and Paris-Tours, I had to keep the captains safe during the most difficult sections. On the dirt roads of France I had the task of pulling between one dirt road sector and another to TrentinoParis-Tours was the last race of the year and also the most challenging, with 213 kilometers of mud and rain. At the finish I was among the last, but I was lucky enough to cross the finish line with Morkov, who was in his last race.
You ran a lot with Trentino...
Of the five races I did with the professionals, four I ran with him. He's a rider who's easy to get along with, he's honest and available. On the one hand, I hope he'll take me under his wing, so I can learn as much as possible. During these days of retreat, I've been training with the pros, and he's given me a lot of advice.
Which?
The most important is to be loved by teammates, to be humble and down to earthTo become a leader you need great empathy, the human side is very important.
How would you describe your experiences with professionals?
Beautiful. Trentin is truly an incredible teacher, but I learned from everyone. Even my opponents. See how they move while running, understand what and how to eat during a race, there are so many goodies that I bring with me.
What was it like to return to the big boys, even just for a training session?
Nice. After all, I'm not new anymore, they know me. So the approach is more direct, there is no barrier to break down.I felt more part of the group.
Let's not forget that you're in your second year as an under-23. What progress do you feel you've made in 2024?
The main improvement was in endurance, which was the first goal the trainer told me to work on. The leap from juniors to under 23 is difficult, so I needed to increase my endurance qualities.In just one year I feel like I've made great progress.
Other?
I focused a lot on my natural qualities: sprints and sprints. I didn't try to improve other aspects, like climbing for example.I honestly didn't expect to go so fast right away. I know it seems obvious, but to describe my 2024 I would use the word “growth.” I've matured a lot, both physically and mentally. I'm about to turn 20, and now I feel ready.
What do you expect from 2025?
To maximize work to be able to win the most important races among the under 23s and become a leaderI would like to test myself in the category classics: Roubaix, Ghent and the Young ridersster Coaster Challenge. I don't know much about the calendar yet, I hope to do the Tour of Brittany and the Giro Next Gen. This last one in particular can be a further step towards growth.
