At the Tour, Magnus Sheffield there wasn't. The Ineos Grenadiers he preferred to reserve it for other shorter races, starting with the Tour of Poland, to continue to raise him gradually, considering that we are talking about an American in his early twenties. But if we deal with the brand new “Use connection” who has done wonders on French soil, we cannot fail to also consider Sheffield, who in the spring was the star-spangled standard-bearer who made the most noise.
His feat at the Brabant Arrow, with that victory in very difficult weather conditions and on the classic cobblestones It couldn't go unnoticed, and in some ways, it's as if he's closed the first phase of a very fast-paced story, because this big boy from Minneapolis, who grew up in New York, is used to going full speed. He's always done it; his cycling career, in fact, lasted just a few years, closing the previous period dedicated to alpine skiing.
In its evolution the move from Minneapolis to New York has its weightFrom an American city to what many consider a “piece of Europe” transferred across the Atlantic, Sheffield has always had a strong European vocation at its heart, probably inherited from his Norwegian mother. For years, Magnus, who holds dual citizenship, had followed in his mother's footsteps. As soon as the cold months arrived, off to the mountains, with our beloved skis on our feet. In Colorado or in Europe, in the Alps, learning and having fun, watching champions like Bode Miller. He dreamed of being like him, but little by little that bike which was his tool to maintain the condition in the summer it took over.
The gift of memory
That childhood passion, however, had a strong impact on his cycling career, because compared to all the others, Sheffield has one particularity: a prodigious memory. Just one inspection of the routes is enough for him to learn every metre of the route, especially every curve.. In fact, the curves are a fundamental aspect because he never gets off track. All thanks to the experience and eye he has gained on the snow, as they do slalom skiers when they mentally review the track miming every doorstep.
They immediately set their sights on similar capabilities Ineos executivesAfter his extraordinary junior career, with a world podium in 2019 (in the opening photo by Getty Images), they would have signed him up immediately, but not having space they have so to speak contributed to finding space for him Rally cycling, one of the main American professional teams, where Sheffield remained for very little time, because this year he was already in the main group of the British team and the technicians did not spare him. 46 days of racing up to now and great results with a victory at the Vuelta a Andalucia in addition to the Belgian one. Plus, eight other top 10 finishes to his name, including second place in the national time trial and third place in the road race.
2019 Junior World Championships podium, with two Americans (gold medalists Simmons and Sheffield) and Martinelli 2nd The American's victory at the Brabant Arrows, on a day of bad weather
2019 Junior World Championships podium, with two Americans (gold medalists Simmons and Sheffield) and Martinelli 2nd The American's victory at the Brabant Arrows, on a day of bad weather
The aim of the Tour
But what kind of rider is Sheffield? When asked, the American always answers the same way: "Someone who wants to go fast everywhere. For now I'm emerging in the one-day classics, but my goal is to aim for the general classifications of the stage races." Which translated means Tour de France, only "real" race for the Americans, the only two-wheeled event that manages to break through the sporting interest of the average American usually absorbed in national team sports.
To get to this, Sheffield does a bit of everything: cyclocross, mountain biking, even track.Here he even holds the junior world record in the pursuit in 3'06"447 (not yet recognized by the UCI). The Americans are banking on him to build a quartet capable of competing for the podium already at Paris 2024Sheffield is ready, even if he admits that he still has little experience on the track and above all, chasing aside, he feels like a fish out of water.
In Poland for Hayter
Meanwhile, at the Tour of Poland he was a valuable gregarious for Hayter, but to define him as a gregarious is perhaps an understatement. The Ineos technicians were ecstatic to see his acumen and his strong presence in managing some phases of the British captain's run in defense. When asked how he managed to be so mature for his age, Sheffield replied: "I never show up at the start just for the sake of it, every race of mine must have a purpose". His story has just begun.
