Q&A: Alan Hatherly plans to ‘find the limits’ at his debut Giro d’Italia

Mountain bike World Champion Alan Hatherly is set to make his Grand Tour debut at the upcoming Giro d'Italia, as confirmed in a recent Q&A with *Escape Collective*. The South African, a multiple World Cup winner and reigning Short Track World Champion, views this foray into road racing not as a diversion, but as a strategic stepping stone. His primary objective remains mountain bike gold at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the Giro experience designed to push his physical limits and enhance his endurance.

This move by Hatherly highlights a growing trend among elite off-road riders, where Grand Tour participation is increasingly seen as a high-level training block rather than a career pivot. Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock have famously balanced disciplines, using road racing to build form and tactical acumen transferable to their primary off-road pursuits. For Hatherly, whose career trajectory has been firmly rooted in MTB, the Giro represents a significant departure from his usual calendar but a calculated investment in his long-term Olympic ambitions.

In an era of increasing specialization, Hatherly’s approach is refreshingly pragmatic. He’s not chasing pink; he’s chasing gold, and apparently, a three-week road race is the most efficient route.