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Pro cyclists take the #10YearChallenge

Internet meme has top pros posting photos of themselves then-and-now

January 16, 2019
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If you have been clued in to social media the past couple of days you may have noticed people posting then-and-now pictures of themselves. It’s an internet meme where participants post two side by side photos of themselves which were taken 10 years apart. Some participants have also included #HowHardDidAgingHitYou to gauge their ageing process.

Of course, a number of high profile cyclists who have been riding bikes for at least 10 years which many established pros have, took the opportunity to participate in the challenge.

Mark Cavendish

Mark Cavendish posted a photo of himself from his Columbia-Highroad days. In his comment, he noted that the comparison made him feel old. In 2009, Cavendish won a career-high six stages of the Tour de France. In 2019, he is riding for Dimension Data and hasn’t won a Tour stage since 2016 when he won four.

Alejandro Valverde

In 2009, DNA samples taken from Alejandro Valverde during the 2008 Tour de France were matched to plasma seized in the Operación Puerto investigation launched in 2006. Later that year he was suspended for two years though a lengthy challenge saw him continue racing until January 1, 2010. 10-years-later he wear the rainbow stripes as UCI World Champion.

Antoine Duchesne

Antoine Duchesne participated and contrasted a photo of himself in 2009 when he rode the Tour of Abitibi with Team Canada. As Canadian champion, he may have grown a bit of facial hair but his jersey remains quite similar.

Alexandre Kristoff

Alexandre Kristoff wasn’t impressed with how he’s aged noting that if he continues on this path he will look like his grandfather in 20 years.

Nairo Quintana

Nairo Quintana posted a photo of himself today alongside of an image back in the day when he rode for the Boyaca team in Colombia. In his caption he wrote, “Many changes in 10 years, thankful to those who believed I could become a good cyclist.”

Chris Froome

Chris Froome looked back on the Giro d’Italia which he rode for the first time in 2009. His top result that year was 6th on Stage 14 behind Simon Gerrans. In 2018, Froome won the Giro with two stage wins. The Kenya-born Brit has won six Grand Tours since making his professional debut in 2008 with Barloworld

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