Unsung Heroes

The unsung heroes series highlighted some of the lesser known names in professional cycling and their stories.

The Norwegian rider started riding to build fitness after partying hard at university, and initially wanted to be a sprinter before turning into a promising climber.

The 23-year-old from Italy fell in love with cycling as a six-year-old after watching Ivan Basso winning the 2006 Giro d'Italia.

Planet is one of Novo Nordisk's most recognizable riders but he's been struggling with fear in the bunch after he was hit by a driver while training in 2022.

The 31-year-old from Cyprus took a winding path to professional cycling but she finally made it to the WorldTour last year.

The Italian grew up around animals on her grandmother's farm, but she always dreamed of having her own dog.

Since signing her first 'pro' contract in 2013 for no salary, Allen has become one of the most reliable domestiques in the bunch.

The Groupama-FDJ rider from Luxembourg was overcome with emotions when he finished his first Tour de France last year.

Velo also talks to the Bora-Hansgrohe rider about his other sporting passions, soccer and golf.

The Jayco-AlUla rider used poetry to make sense of his life as a professional cyclist.

The Uno-X rider is making his Tour de France debut after a tumultuous season that has been disrupted by illness and a high-speed crash.

The 2021 Irish national road race champion was hit head-on by a van driver while training last year.

He left the Dutch Air Force last year to turn professional with Human Powered Health: 'My road to being a professional cyclist is so very uncommon.'

The 26-year-old only took up cycling three years ago but hit the fast track to the professional peloton.

The Ethiopian wanted nothing more than to ride a bike as a child, but he didn't have his own and had to rent one by the minute just to ride.

Her road to the top included stints in speed-skating and e-racing.

The Human Powered Health rider initially ignored his condition, but he had a wake-up call when he ended up in the hospital.

Floortje Mackaij is still just 26 but she's one of the most experienced riders in the bunch as she enters her 10th year in the pro peloton.

The Australian Trek-Segafredo rider was the first in her family to get a passport as she set off for a month of racing in the USA. The trip would kickstart her career.

The German rider was part of a dominating line-up that won the Olympic, European, and world team pursuit titles, but she describes herself as a ‘lazy’ child.

Alena Amialiusik is one of the most respected domestiques in the women's peloton, but she has winning credentials with world and European titles.

The Dutchwoman called time on her 13-year cycling career in October and now wants to use her skills as a nutritionist to help Dutch children.

The story of one domestique's winning ride, and the team support that got her there.

Kasia Niewiadoma reflects on what makes Tiffany Cromwell an indispensable teammate.

Bou became king for a day when Valencia welcomed its home rider with painted roads and party passion – and Bou reciprocated with a ride fit for his hero 'El Pistolero.'

Carlos Verona was inspired to take up racing when he saw the 2003 Vuelta a España go through his hometown and he hasn't looked back since.

In 2016, Jetse Bol started studying Spanish to better integrate into his Colombian team. Now, at Burgos-BH, he's fluent in the language and that much more a part of the team.

The 37-year-old Mikel Nieve is one of the most experienced riders in the peloton with 20 grand tour finishes under his belt and only one abandon.

Hofstede spent his youth training and racing with his brother – their half-wheeling horseplay continues to motivate the Jumbo-Visma domestique to this day.

Antonio Nibali is the embodiment of Sicilian family values. He speaks about living in reference to his brother Vincenzo and life away from his nine-month-old daughter.

Andreas Kron is riding his debut grand tour at the Vuelta a España. For Kron, cycling was an escape when his mother died from cancer but her memory is often with him when he races.

Putting a smile on a fan's face is what makes Michael Schär happy when he's racing and it's what makes the Tour de France so special.

Norwegian rider Amund Grøndahl Jansen can often be found on two skis when he's not on two wheels.

Michael Gogl used to play the cello as a child but he soon learned that his talents were best placed elsewhere, bike racing. He is riding his fourth Tour de France.

Jonas Rickaert works hard in the peloton for Mathieu van der Poel and Tim Merlier, but he used to be a bit of a prankster as a teenager.

Jacopo Guarnieri is a hugely successful leadout man for Arnaud Démare but he also balances his life as a rider with life as a single parent.

Hugo Houle used to watch the Tour de France every summer with his brother who was killed in a hit and run in 2012. This year he wants to win a stage for him.

Lukas Pöstlberger is seeing a childhood dream come true by riding the Tour de France – and roadside pizzas make it all the better.

Tour rookie Eekhoff has had a rollercoaster journey through cycling, breaking his collar bone in his second-ever ride and then being disqualified at U23 worlds.

Throughout the Tour de France, VeloNews will be talking to some of the unsung heroes in the peloton – those riders that battle on without the recognition the major stars receive.

The British-French rider has been supporting Hugh Carthy's GC bid in his grand tour debut at the Giro d'Italia.

The Dutchman made headlines with his dramatic breakaway victory, but it almost never happened after he came close to retiring last year.

The Canadian's passion for good food and wine gives him an outlet after a string of injuries and illnesses.

The veteran Slovenian rider on what he loves most about professional racing and the Bahrain-Victorious' rollercoaster Giro d'Italia.

After being left without a team in 2016, Simon Pellaud moved to Colombia and found his happy place.

The experienced Belgian rider, who is working for Remco Evenepoel at the Giro d'Italia, says he loves to "kill everybody" in the peloton with a hard race.

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier fell in love with cycling at an early age and never looked back.

For Jan Tratnik, being able to see fans from his home country of Slovenia is a huge morale boost.

Isle of Man rider Mark Christian has been given a second chance at ProTeam racing with the Eolo-Kometa team.

Benedetti is a tireless workhorse for Peter Sagan, something that makes his sole Giro stage win taste all the sweeter.

Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier is one of many promising stage racing talents to come out of Eritrea over the last decade.