From Santa Coloma de Farners, the heart of a land as much cyclist as GironaThese weeks, far from the snow that is so widely distributed, Jofre Cullell is the great acquisition of Primaflor.Mondraker-X Sauce for a year that has taken special relevance.
Running World Cups and the Olympic event is where his head and illusions are, a goal that does not understand age: "it has been necessary to ask for a permit to run. World Cups in the absolute category, in spite of my age -still 21 years old-".
What position enters your mind? "I think a top 20 would be very good and would help me a lot to be in Tokyo, but you have to work long and hard."
In front of her is none other than Carlos Coloma, Pablo Rodríguez and David Valero. for two places: "They are very strong and above all they have something that I lack, experience". A reality that we all see, but that does not daunt the young Jofre Cullell. Others, with his age, would think of Paris 2024, he does not want to wait, he is in a hurry.
Life from the bike
He is backed by his love for the bicycle, a companion at all times, "when I train to suffer, to push myself and improve, when I don't, to disconnect". He has been watching life go by on a bicycle since he was five years old, and his track record with big wheels speaks of a biker who has always flirted with important victories: there is his European Youth Championships four years ago and multiple Spanish championships.
A track record that also includes cyclocrossIn winter: "This year I have done some races, but with my sights set on MTB". This was not the case in previous years, when he has competed more regularly, achieving, among other things, to be among the best in places like the Belgian ones, certainly the most coveted of the circuit.
Right now cycling is his profession, a privilege for a young man in his early twenties, but it does not distract him from other goals, such as the higher degree in mechanics for which he studies every afternoon.
Here he learns about production lines and machine programming, things that he applies to his life as a cyclist: "I organize myself better, I'm more efficient, in the end it's knowledge that can be used in many fields".
He has already tried on the colors of his new team, the Primaflor-Mondraker-X Sauceand he has seen in photos and in the mirror how he looks in the equipment that he signs GobikIt's really good, I have competed with international brands and I can say that this clothing has nothing to envy them. It has a very good fit, it fits perfectly and I feel comfortable when training".
Turning the page as soon as possible
He wants to put 2020 and all its consequences behind him as soon as possible and focus on the months ahead. "Last year," he says, "was very complicated. First because of the confinement and later, when the competitions returned, because I tested positive for Covid, news that was terrible, because it left me unable to compete. The truth is that I had a bad time, I was caught training at altitude and the symptoms of headache and some asthma were a constant. Then, when I tested negative, the headache lasted about two more weeks until it disappeared".
He now looks out over the horizon from Primaflor.Mondraker-X Sauce, a choice that came from "the freedom that the team has given me from the beginning, setting a calendar to suit me and even being able to do some cyclocross. I also think it's the perfect place to continue learning".
TextsThe Notebook ofJoan Follower
Photos: David Simó Photos
