"I didn't expect to feel so motivated": we interviewed Henrique Avancini after his transition to road cycling

The Brazilian cyclist Henrique Avancini won the XCM World Championship in 2023 and after a successful career in mountain biking, he surprised everyone by announcing his retirement. Now, a year later, he has surprised everyone again by announcing his return to professional cycling, but this time on the road.

In this interview, the Brazilian opens the doors to his new stage in road cycling. A brave change, full of childhood dreams, renewed motivation, and the same passion as always.

Interview with Henrique Avancini after signing with Factor Racing and announcing his move to the road

Henrique, after a successful career in MTB, you surprise everyone with your signing with Factor Racing and your move to the road. When and how did this idea of making the change come about?

Well, this is a very old dream. Since I was a child, I dreamed of racing on the road, but when I pursued my career in mountain biking, I put that dream aside for many years, mainly because at that time road cycling didn't seem like a healthy sport to me. However, now I believe it has become a cleaner and healthier sport.

RECOMENDADO

Matteo Jorgenson repeats victory in Paris-Nice

Juan Ayuso wins the 2025 Tirreno-Adriatico

The Cape Epic 2025 starts with Braidot-Avondetto and Langvad-Gómez dominating the Prologue

Matt Beers mounts a double trigger and the latest SRAM prototypes on his S-Works Epic 8 for the Cape Epic 2025

Litespeed presents "the lightest titanium bike in the world"

This rear light is also a mini electric pump

After winning the World Championship in Glasgow, I decided not to compete in MTB anymore. The next day, I spoke with my coach on the phone and told him that of all the things I had done in my life on the bike, the only thing still on my bucket list was to compete on the road. At that moment, we thought the most sensible thing to do would be to take a break, take some time to rest, check my health, and see if I was still motivated to, perhaps, try something different in the future.

You mentioned that as a child you dreamed of racing in the Tour, the Giro, or the Vuelta. Now that you are closer to that dream, what does this new challenge mean to you?

Well, this goal is more than just a sports plan, it is a true dream for me. It is something I had in my head since I was 8, 9, or 10 years old, but I always saw it as something very distant, almost unattainable. Now that I am trying to make it come true, it has become something very personal and emotional. I am enjoying this stage very much, every step of the process.

Mountain biking and road cycling are two very different worlds. What do you think will be the biggest challenges in your adaptation to the road?

Well, it is definitely a very different world, especially in how the sport is managed. Road cycling is a discipline where there is much more politics, and finding good opportunities will not be easy.

Today, numbers and data are highly valued, as if they were the most important, but I still believe there is more to it. Even so, I have quite good numbers, even impressive in some aspects.

I think the hardest part will be learning everything I need to know. So far, I have realized that I don't lack as much as I thought, but the biggest challenge will probably be my age. I am turning 36, and that is not very attractive to most teams."

Many MTB cyclists have successfully transitioned to road cycling, like Van der Poel or Pidcock. Have you spoken to any of them about this change? Have they given you any advice?

Yes, I have spoken to some people who have experience competing in more than one discipline. And it is clear that sharing efforts between disciplines is not easy, it requires a lot of balance.

But in my case, as I am now putting all my energy into road cycling, I believe I can bring some experience from MTB. Although, on the other hand, I also have to learn many things from scratch, start from the beginning in many aspects."

Physically and technically, how are you preparing for this transition? Have you changed your training to adapt to the demands of the road?

Yes, the training has changed a lot. I am feeling quite good physically, but the biggest difference is in how the preparation is structured.

In mountain biking, the preparation was always quite complicated for me. I always had a good engine, but the most important thing was knowing how to use it well. When I reached a good form, I had to invest a lot of energy in improving my riding efficiency, in working on active recovery... it was all very specific.

In road cycling, you can focus more on physical development in a more isolated way. Then, the races themselves help you fine-tune the specifics. It is a very different approach from MTB.

I would say that the preparation for the road is much simpler, but competing well in road races is more complex because there are many more variables to manage in the race.

Factor is a very innovative brand in the world of road cycling. What attracted you to this team in particular and what are your expectations with them?

Well, I was very interested in the project because it is a Factory team, a team that is directly connected to the brand. Factor is a very interesting brand, with a lot of ambition for the future.

They understood perfectly what I am looking for: to develop my goal of reaching the WorldTour races in a short period of time.

The possibility of starting with a European Continental team seemed very attractive to me because it gives me a little more freedom to start and adapt. In addition, races at that level are usually less controlled, perhaps a little more nervous, and I think that can work as a good school for me.

In MTB you were a leader and a reference. In road cycling, at least initially, your role may be different. How do you see yourself in this new team dynamic?

Yes, it is a big difference from MTB. In mountain biking, when you have a good level and are in a race, you almost always go for the win. It is a discipline where everything depends on you, which generates a lot of pressure and stress.

On the road, it is different. Even if you are in good shape, many things can happen that you cannot control. Sometimes, the result just doesn't come, and that doesn't mean you have failed.

I am very open to learning, to adapting to new roles within the team. I know that at the beginning I will not be the leader or be in a position to make key decisions in the race, and that's fine with me. I see it as a learning stage, and if I can help the team and continue to grow, I will be fulfilling my role. I am enjoying this change in dynamics.

Some cyclists who have left the elite, like Valverde and other references, have found a new way to continue competing in Gravel. Is this a discipline that interests you for the future?

Well, I'm not sure. Gravel could be a possibility, but right now all my energy is focused on road cycling.

I am quite impressed with how I feel, perhaps more motivated than in many years. Also, I have returned to having very good physical numbers that I haven't reached in two or three seasons.

So for now, I want to focus completely on this dream I have had since I was a child. Later, if the motivation comes to try another discipline, we'll see. But first comes this personal goal.

Brazil has seen you shine in MTB and now will see you compete on the road. How has the reaction been from your followers and the Brazilian cycling community to this change?

Well, the reaction was quite strong, I think few expected something like this. I didn't intend to create many expectations, but for those who have followed me all these years in mountain biking, maybe it doesn't surprise them as much.

I have done many things that for a long time seemed impossible for us, Latin Americans. So, in a way, I think people appreciate that I continue to compete and seek new challenges.

But for me, this stage also represents a moment in life where I want to do things more calmly. I still don't know how long I will be active: it could be six months, a couple of years... or even more. It all depends on whether I can soar high and reach where I hope to reach.

If you could choose, what road race would you like to compete in first? Do you dream of a classic or a grand tour?

My biggest dream would be to compete in a grand tour. That is what has brought me here, it is what I dreamed of when I was a child.

Today, if in the future I also have the opportunity to compete in some classics, it would be incredible, without a doubt. But the number one dream, the one I have had since I was little, is to do a grand tour.

Do you think your experience in MTB gives you any advantage on the road, for example, in technical terrains or descents?

Yes, I believe there are certain advantages. I always sought out situations that were truly challenging, and that has given me experience to work under pressure.

Sometimes, for road cyclists, dealing with pressure is not so easy. That's why it can happen that a rider who is not a leader performs well, but when they take on that role, with expectations and pressure on top, the results are not the same. I worked on that a lot during my years in mountain biking.

Also, I believe that my work ethic and discipline in training are strong points. If there is something I can say with certainty, it is that I am a constant worker, always seeking to learn and improve.

I see this stage as a positive situation: on the one hand, I have a lot of experience and background, but on the other hand, I feel like a youth starting from scratch.

Finally, after so many years in the elite of MTB, do you feel that this new stage motivates you like the first day? How do you face this new adventure on a personal level?

Honestly, I didn't expect to feel so renewed and motivated to do something new. It has surprised me a lot because I really feel like I did 15 or 20 years ago, when I only had dreams and a lot of desire, and everything was uncertainty.

The difference now is that I have the peace of mind that life experience gives me. And having that balance puts me in a position where, honestly, I am enjoying this stage very much.