Mountain Bike Star Hatherly Risks It All on the Road to Dominate the Dirt in LA 2028

Double mountain bike world champion Alan Hatherly is making a significant pivot, with reports indicating he is set to race the Giro d’Italia next month. This move represents the second year of his calculated gamble to integrate road racing into his program, ultimately with the long-term goal of dominating the dirt at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. His participation in a Grand Tour marks a serious commitment to this dual-discipline strategy.

This strategic shift is a bold play in a sport increasingly demanding multi-faceted athletes. Hatherly, already a proven force in XCO, is following a path blazed by riders like Tom Pidcock and Mathieu van der Poel, who leverage road fitness to elevate their off-road performance. For Hatherly, the Giro offers an unparalleled block of high-intensity, long-duration training that no mountain bike schedule could replicate, potentially giving him a crucial edge in the lead-up to LA 2028.

Hatherly's Giro debut isn't just a race; it's a very public, very arduous training camp. Whether the road delivers the promised dirt dominance remains to be seen, but the commitment is certainly not in question.