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.
