Markel Beloki: From watching dad on YouTube to turning pro with EF Education-EasyPost

The Beloki name is synonymous with the cycling scene of the 2000s.

From the epic duels in the Tour de France mountains with Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich, to the iconic jerseys of Liberty Seguros, Euskaltel and O.N.C.E, Joseba Beloki was - for a short period at least - one of the most accomplished Grand Tour leaders in the peloton.

Now there’s a new Beloki on the scene with Joseba’s son, Markel, joining the pro ranks at the tender age of 18 thanks to a two-year offer from EF Education-EasyPost.

Like his father, Markel is something of an all-rounder having won the junior Spanish time trial championships and taken second in the corresponding road race. And like his father, Markel speaks with the same modest attitude and appreciative tones that graced the field twenty years ago.

“We know that becoming a professional is super difficult so the best advice I get from my dad is that I just need to take it step-by-step and learn from those around me,” Beloki told GCN at EF’s recent training camp in Girona, Spain.

Turning pro has always been Beloki’s dream. He was born just on the cusp of his father's retirement in 2005 but modern tech has ensured that whenever he needed a dash of inspiration he could always flick through his dad’s back catalogue of racing experiences online. Some of those YouTube clips were probably more palatable than others - given the fact that Beloki senior suffered a serious crash at the Tour in 2003 that ended his time as a Grand Tour leader - but there were moments to cherish too, including two podium spots at the Tour and another famous day in which his father repeatedly attacked Armstrong on the slopes of Alpe d’Huez a few days before that fateful crash.

“Next year it’s going to be a bit harder for my dad to be with me at every race but he’ll try and be there when he can," Beloki said. "I started racing when I was twelve and started riding at around five years old, and when I started racing my biggest dream was to turn professional. This is a dream come true and everyone knows that there’s a big cycling tradition in my family.

"I obviously don’t have memories of my dad racing because I was born in 2005 and his last race was a year later but I’ve watched it on YouTube and for me it’s not pressure, it’s an advantage because he can teach me so much.”

At the EF Education-EasyPost, the young Spaniard had the chance to rub shoulders with some of the most successful and experienced WorldTour athletes on the circuit, with Richard Carapaz and Neilson Powless two of his regular training buddies.

Read more: Neilson Powless: I don't want to pigeonhole myself

When it comes to 2024 the results will take care of themselves, but the main focus of Beloki will be to learn from his esteemed teammates as he settles into his new environment.

“It’s bigger. That’s the main change that has come from the juniors. The atmosphere here is larger and so many more departments are within the organisation. I’m super happy to be here,” he said.

“For me, it was a surprise to come here. I won the Spanish time trial championships and I had some good results and here we are. My agent had contact with the team and it went from there," he said.

"I also had contact with Sebastian Langeveld when it came to coming to the team. This was the best opportunity that I’ve had in my life, and I’m so happy to be here. There were a lot of things that attracted me to the team but one aspect was the fact that they’ve signed a lot of young riders like me. They want to build for the future. We’ve got a good atmosphere, with a mix of young and experienced riders.

“My aim for 2024 is to improve to the next level as a rider. I want to find my place in WorldTour peloton and that means growing and learning from the experienced riders. I still don’t know my calendar but for sure I won’t be going to the biggest races on the calendar to start with. Instead, I’ll do some of the smaller races to reach my next level but learning the most important goal for me.”

The first focus remains on team camp, where Beloki will pick up new equipment and advice and expertise from a raft of coaches and support staff. We don't what sort of rider he will one day develop into but he’ll be hoping to have left his very own racing impressions on YouTube for the next generation to watch and one day follow.

“We’re doing some new things for me here, with a focus on nutrition, and of course materials. It’s been super busy and it’s amazing to have all this new kit. It’s like Christmas to have all of this. In the future, I don’t yet know what sort of rider I can be. I’m good at time trialling and I can climb but I think that there’s more I can do. We have to see with Grand Tours but next it’s more about development,” Beloki said.