Current cycling is nourished by the great dominators of grand tours (Pogacar, Roglic, Bernal, Carapaz…), but also of a new generation of multidisciplinary talents who have marked a before and after in the history of this sport. The privileged fans have been enjoying the feats of Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock, three of the most complete riders in existence to this day, since throughout the year They combine cyclocross, mountain bike and road. And not only competing, but winning races of the highest international prestige. An atrocity.
In Spain we are in luck, because Charles Canal (Galicia, 20 years old) represents the best of our cycling in terms of multidisciplinary runners. The now Euskaltel cyclist (he came from Burgos BH) is in his third professional year, en route, but its origins go back to the mud. The Galician took his first steps on two wheels in cyclocross, a discipline in which he was Spanish junior champion for two years, as well as seventh in the World Championship. From there he went on to try the MTB (also national cross country champion in 2019), to culminate with the asphalt, same progression previously carried out by Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock, world and olympic champions between cyclocross and MTB.
At oman tour, Carlos is completing his first test of the season on the road, where he already signed a respectable 10th place in the second stage and where he hopes to sign a good role. “I think the general will be decided in Green Mountain and it suits me well. I’ll try to do a good stage there, as well as get into a final and do a good overall”, Canal tells AS about an appointment that for him is the most peculiar he has run, with a climate so extreme to that of his land that it is good for him to adapt to the harshness of future races (“Starting here I think will be very good for me”).
“The atmosphere at Euskaltel helps young people to develop their potential”
Charles Channel
Canal defines himself as a very complete runner and hopes to transfer the virtues and skills acquired in other disciplines to the route modality: “I am an off-road racer. I defend myself well in all aspects and I am quite reliable. As far as a young runner, like me, can be, I try to be very stable in the results. On the road, which are many days of competition, I try to always be there, or at least not have down days. This year I will try to take that leap in quality and try to get ahead in the races.”
In this progression of young talents, the peace of mind provided by his team, a Euskaltel Euskadi that in Oman is embroidering it with a great presence in the leaks and the combative jersey very much on track by Peio Goikoetxea. “It’s a bit for the tranquility, the calm, knowing how to do things and not anticipating what has to be naturally. The growth times of the runners are respected and, in addition, there is a good and familiar environment that helps young cyclists a lot to develop their potential”, explains the Galician about the evolution of the Basque team in recent campaigns.
Despite being another of the pearls of Spanish cycling, along with the Ayusos, Rodríguez, Arrieta and García Pierna, Carlos, in the midst of learning, does not set long-term goals: “The key to these promises is, above all, fruit of good grassroots work. From my point of view, there is a lot of precocity right now in the corridors, but I don’t know if it will be a good or bad thing in the long term. Only time will tell. I try to do things respecting the times and knowing that I am still a 20-year-old who competes with veteran people, with much more flight hours and experience. To go far, what we have to do is learn as much as possible at this stage and try to continue developing.” Write down his name for future events, such as Gran Camiño or Volta a Catalunya, where Canal intends to wage war. “La Vuelta? That depends on the team, but I will work very hard to deserve the position if Euskaltel is invited. I would be very excited to repeat and improve last year’s result”, affirms Canal with enthusiasm. The same enthusiasm that awakens among the Spanish fans.