'Consistency is the key' - Esteban Chaves plays the long game in hunt for renewed success

Esteban Chaves finishes stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya on Port Ainé
Esteban Chaves finishes stage 3 of the Volta a Catalunya on Port Ainé (Image credit: Getty Images)

Esteban Chaves has had more than his fair share of injuries and illnesses to overcome in his career, but the EF Education-EasyPost racer has always refused to throw in the towel and plays the long game - two of his trademark characteristics as a racer. After a couple of uneven years, in 2024 Chaves is once again looking determinedly ahead for fresh success.

Climbing Port Ainé on Wednesday, you could have forgiven Chaves for getting somewhat nostalgic. After all, the mammoth Pyrenean ascent was where the Colombian took his last WorldTour win in the 2021 Volta a Catalunya when he was the only rider capable of breaking Ineos' stranglehold on the race.

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.