He is 20 years old, in his second season as a professional (both at Kern Pharma) and cycling runs in the family. Igor Arrieta (Uharte Arakil, 2002). His father, José Luis Arrieta, was a professional from 1993 to 2010, having a long career at Banesto and later at French Ag2r until his retirement. Igor is a versatile runner, who shone in the lower categories and, being still very young, this “quiet” boy fights to gain a place among the elite. He adds 16 days of competition in 2023, all of them on Spanish soil. This Saturday he will run the GP Indurain. He spoke to AS.
How is your second professional campaign going?
With desire and motivation. Last year I was able to see how everything works a bit, the races, the pace, the intensity… and the idea is to put everything learned into practice. After all, it’s time to compete against World Tour people, world champions, and being in the same events as riders you admired is also emotional.
In lower categories he dominated. Then he had to jump.
Yes, in those races and championships I was good at it, I adapted and I was able to have good years, but that is in the past. It’s time to fight with other people and on another level.
With his father, he must have had to ride a bike since he was little, right?
Yes, at home there have always been bikes, and I always watched cycling on TV, but I didn’t think beyond that. I was also more of a soccer fan, I liked soccer. There was a moment when the bike bug started to bite me and I focused on it. I have seen most of my father in videos, but I always have some memory of going with my mistress (mother), to see the Tour, La Vuelta… the trips.
Do they have similarities between the two?
I would say that he was a very good gregarious, and he climbed very well. I, the truth, do not know very well what I will become. In some things I think we do resemble each other.
Young people are in fashion in Spain. Juan Ayuso, Carlos Rodríguez… and you in the future?
Being with those names is something that motivates. I understand that I am under the radar, to see how I evolve, but they are already there, with the best. In my case, that the spectator, the people, the Press, take me into account for the future is motivation and not pressure. I may get close to that level and I may not. In the end each one has his growth.
How do you see yourself within the team?
Since I started as Lizarte, who now became a Finisher, they always treated me well and let me grow at my own pace. The truth is that I am very happy. I try to be a complete runner, who goes down well, who rises at a good level and who shows his face in time trials. Regarding the latter, it consists of practicing it, wanting to do it well and having people around to help you (his partner Raúl García Pierna is the Spanish champion of the discipline).
Who were your references?
In case we have always been Alejandro Valverde. Being Spanish, having met him… I would say that he is a benchmark. There are also others, like Froome, from seeing it on television and so on.
Do you analyze your performance data?
Yes. It also depends a bit on the moment, but when I’m at home I do like to analyze my performance data to find out. However, in the race I’m not much of looking at it, I don’t like it. I prefer to go with the map and that’s it.
A dream as a professional?
Gain (laughs). The first thing would be to get a victory as a professional, without a doubt. Later, I would like to succeed and win in the Basque Country. They are careers that I have always lived close to home and I feel very close.
