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Do not be shocked in the event you hear extra shouts of ‘Bravo’ at bike races, with a capital ‘B’. Whereas the mantra is a standard exclamation to reward talent and braveness, it is also the surname of Brazil’s newest sports activities persona, 19-year-old bicycle owner Henrique Bravo. He is on an upward trajectory distant from his Brazilian roots, now making noise in Europe with Soudal-QuickStep Growth.
There was one other Enrique who grew to become a task mannequin in Brazil for a rising technology of cyclists: Enrique Avancini, who gained World Cups, levels at Cape Epic and world titles together with his mountain bike abilities. Moderately than a Kaká, Neymar, Rinaldo, or Rinaldinho, it was this athlete with two names and two world championships in marathon MTB who caught the eye of Bravo, carving a ardour for the mountain bike and a path to a professional profession on the highway bike.
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To start out this 12 months, Bravo gained a stage at his first UCI 2.1 stage race, Tour du Rwanda, after which gained the primary GC title of his younger profession at Tour of Antalya. In lower than two weeks, at some point earlier than his twentieth birthday, Bravo will take the beginning of the U23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège for a second time, touchdown twenty first in his debut.
Cyclingnews: Inform us about rising up in Nova Lima, a big city within the mountainous area of south-east Brazil. How did you bought concerned with biking?
Enrique Bravo: I at all times had a variety of power, so I did all of the sports activities first, taking part in soccer, as nearly all the children in Brazil. I did swimming, biking, judo, skateboarding and plenty of extra sports activities. My childhood in Brazil was wonderful. I studied at an Italian college within the city whereas I did a bunch of sports activities (to attempt to spend my infinite power) and had a variety of enjoyable with mates taking part in soccer. For certain, my favorite topic was bodily schooling, additionally I used to be all in favour of geography.
However then, near 11 years previous, I made a decision to strive a mountain bike class, near the place I stay, after which I had a love [for cycling] from the primary time on the 2 wheels.
CN: Did you might have a task mannequin for biking as a younger rider, both in your loved ones or from an expert athlete?
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HB: To be sincere, after I was youthful, I didn’t watch biking. The tradition in Brazil was rather more round soccer. An instance, in my household, there may be no person who does biking. However then, after I began mountain biking, I grew to become a giant fan of Henrique Avancini.
CN: What do you keep in mind about your first bike?
HB: My first bike was quite simple, which my household gave to me. It was like a grocery store bike with a collaboration with ‘Sizzling Wheels’. I had some additional wheels to assist get the stability, after which after a while, I took [the training wheels] off. Since then, it was simply enjoyable.
CN: What was your first race on a motorcycle exterior Brazil? It was mountain biking, so how did that go?
HB: My first race exterior Brazil was after I was a junior in 2023. The race was near Aosta in Italy. It was unbelievable to journey for the primary time in Europe; all of the views and the paths have been unimaginable. I obtained prime 5 in my first race in Europe, additionally obtained second in a race in Switzerland, so total it was good to see that I had a great degree, in comparison with the European degree.
CN: Your first full season with Soudal-QuickStep Devo was in Europe final 12 months. What have been three issues that you simply discovered from the 12 months?
HB: In Brazil, I mainly did a few races on the highway, earlier than it was simply MTB. So then final 12 months with Soudal was considered one of my first actual highway races. It’s a brand new world of expertise and it was mainly a faculty, I discovered every single day – how one can place, to race as a crew – and mainly every part that in Brazil you don’t have.
CN: It was a giant change to go from Brazil to Spain on the age of 18. Inform us concerning the changes you wanted and what abilities you had that made it snug, too.
HB: For certain, it’s a giant transfer coming from Brazil to stay in Spain, however I tailored fairly quick! I’ve some mates from Brazil who additionally stay right here, so this helped loads to get extra social and discuss my language, like I do at dwelling in Brazil. I communicate Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian, and am now studying French.
Typically you miss Brazil however I actually love the life right here in Girona, from the safety of coaching with out vans but additionally the approach to life of the town.
CN: So, are there busy roads the place you lived in Brazil, and the roads are higher in Spain?
HB: Sure, to go to the small roads with out so many automobiles, you could take the massive highway in Brazil. So I take the practice. On the freeway, there are a variety of automobiles and vans passing at 120 kph, however I’m already used to it.
For some folks from Europe, it could be fairly scary to see how busy it’s. So then I respect it loads right here in Girona the place the automobiles respect the cyclists.
CN: How a lot quicker has the peloton been on the highway than what you have been used to in South America?
HB: For certain, a lot quicker. Everybody right here is so extremely robust and in addition they grew up racing on the highway since they have been younger. Typically, whenever you come from one other continent, it takes a bit extra time to adapt to the racing model and all that stuff, however it’s attainable to comply with them whenever you practice onerous, get some racing within the legs and achieve expertise.
CN: You had a various schedule in 2025 – Liège-Bastogne-Liège, stage races in France and Italy, plus Worlds in Rwanda. What sort of race fits you finest?
HB: I actually love the climbing races, for instance, like Giro Valle D’Aosta fits me fairly properly with the lengthy climbs! The expertise in Rwanda was wonderful, racing with the Brazil colors is one thing distinctive. Nonetheless, I loved loads the extra punchy races like Liège and races in Ardennes.
CN: You spoke to Phil Lowe, crew communications director, on The WolfPack Howls podcast in January about studying to undergo with climbing. What do you want essentially the most about climbing? And what bike do you favor to journey extra, highway or MTB?
HB: Since I began in biking, I used to be good within the mountains. I mainly love how a lot you’ll be able to push on a climb. It’s onerous however wonderful on the identical time.
The place I Iive in Brazil, I’ve a great climb, 5k from my dwelling, it is fairly onerous. I’ve a variety of large climbs to find in Europe, so I’m excited to at some point do these legendary climbs like Alpe D’Huez.
Everyone asks me that query [about a favourite bike]. I’d say highway bike for climbing. After which after I arrive on the prime, I swap, after which I am going on the paths [with mountain bike].
CN: Within the subsequent few years, what are the highest races you stay up for racing essentially the most?
HB: For this 12 months, I’ve some prime U23 races like Giro Subsequent Gen and Tour de L’Avenir. My purpose for the following few years is to maintain dwelling my dream and by no means cease enhancing.
I hope to be on the WorldTour degree. To go to the Olympics in L.A. is a giant purpose. We’ll see in two years what is feasible.
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