If you need proof of the power of social media in professional cycling, you need look no further than the latest chapter in the career of Argentine cyclist Eduardo Sepulveda, currently with Lotto Dostony.
In 2022, Sepulveda, a member of the Dronehopper-Androni Giocattoli team, won the fourth stage of his professional career at the Tour of Turkey, but manager Gianni Savio was unable to find enough money to maintain a pro continental-level operation. Unable to find a sponsor with enough money, he was forced into a desperate situation at the end of the season to find a new team. [Sepulveda, 32, recalled how Larry Warbasse secured his future after Aquablue Sports disappeared. As Sepulveda told Cycling News, "He once found a team on Twitter. He once found a team on Twitter.
Shortly thereafter - "I don't know if he saw the tweet directly or if someone told him," - Lot-Dostony's sporting director, Alan Davis, approached Sepulveda at the Tour de Langkawi to ask if he was still available. A one-year contract was soon agreed upon, and Sepulveda became one of only two Argentine professional riders in 2023.
Strictly speaking, when the Aqua Blue team went under in 2018, Walbus did not use tweets to find a team, but sent a direct message to then AG2R leader Romain Balde, telling him he was free. Sepulveda's tactics were more scattershot. 'I wasn't sure if all the managers etc. knew about my situation and my contract. In my case they did not, but I was very eager to continue"
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Sepulveda explained that he was not a big fan of Twitter. He said, "But last year our main sponsor, Drone Hopper, was going through a rough patch, and it was hard to guarantee that the team would continue.
"I was very lucky, and it's a great team. People said I might have a language barrier, but as long as I have English, I can handle it."
"I'm very lucky to have a great team.
Sepulveda, who is currently competing in the Tour of Oman, is feeling good about his new campaign with his new team. He said, "Preseason was going well, but the first day I got here I got a little sick. But now it's getting better."
"My goal here is to support Maxime [Van Gils, currently fifth overall] and be near the leaders. I want to work here and maybe I can shine if I get the chance down the road."
[20As for the tweet that helped him restart his career, it is still on his feed. Sepulveda said, "Why should I delete it? I'll never forget that tweet.'
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