May 2023. The team Glassdrive/Q8/Anicolor announces its final signing of the season. With a mix of surprise and excitement, fans of national cycling welcomed James (or ‘Jimmy’) Whelan. The Melbourne-born cyclist from Australia boasts credentials at the highest level of cycling, and he just turned 27 years old last month.
The roller-coaster ride that Whelan’s career has taken is one of the most interesting stories that the cycling world has to offer. Propelled by the uniqueness of this journey, which led him to Portugal, the Portuguese Cycling Magazine had a conversation with Jimmy Whelan.
From the glory in Flanders that catapulted him to the greatest races of the World Tour, to the tireless pursuit of a professional contract in Europe, nothing was left unsaid in this exclusive interview that we bring to you
Page 2 – Jimmy Whelan’s calling card
Page 3 – Youth spent in athletics and the late arrival to cycling
Page 4 – Whelan’s meteoric rise to the World Tour
Page 5 – The World Tour: lessons and challenges
Page 7 – The opportunity in Portugal
Page 8 – The setup found at Glassdrive/Q8/Anicolor
Page 9 -The comparison between the Portuguese level and the World Tour
Page 10 -The Volta a Portugal: the team, the teammates, and the goals
Page 11 – The future: staying in Portugal or taking the leap?