How is it possible that a rider with Simon Pellaud's numbers, capable until last year of igniting World Tour and other races with his breakaways, has ended up in China? What could have pushed him, who lives in Colombia, to venture to Asia to race on the road? And how is he doing?

These are the questions that prompted us, in recent hours, to approach the thirty-two-year-old Swiss rider, formerly with Trek and Tudor, at the Tour of Magnificent Qinghai 2025, his fourth race in Chinese territory (and first in seven years), where the native of Martigny has not betrayed his attacking nature, launching himself multiple times ahead and repeatedly animating the various stages, as only he (or almost) knows how to do.

With great frankness and serenity, Pellaud answered all our curiosities, explaining without sparing details how he decided to compete on multiple fronts, how he is managing his travels, and what kind of work environment the Chinese Continental team, Li Ning Star, is.

Simon, first of all, explain how you came to race with Li Ning Star? How did this opportunity arise?

"I had met the director Alex years ago in Switzerland and had always kept an eye on the team from afar. At the end of last season, this gravel project with Tudor Pro Cycling was born, and one of the conditions I set for embracing it was to have a team with which I could also do road activities. This is because the level of gravel competitions is increasingly high, it requires a lot of rhythm, and I'm someone who needs to compete. Having 10-15 race days a year, as happens in the gravel world, is not enough for me, so I chose to come here to Asia, a land I've always liked very much, signing with a Chinese team. When I made it official, I heard people tell me 'but what are you going to do there' because in Europe we don't have a good image of this place. And, instead, I found myself in a team that is truly like a family: Jan, for example, is the masseur but also takes care of booking flights and logistics, while Alex is the director. I really felt at home and am truly involved: I often lead team meetings personally, use VeloViewer, and I'll tell you, it's something I wouldn't mind doing in the future".

Among other things, I see that you're not badly equipped in terms of materials...

"True, this was also an important factor in my decision. Here, from this point of view, we are really well-equipped and professionally outfitted, a sign that things are done well. In Europe, no one knows Li Ning, but in China, there's a store in every city and every shopping mall. It's a truly strong sponsor that wants to grow in the future, comparable to what Nike and Adidas are in Europe".

To listen to the content of the rest of our conversation with Pellaud and hear his opinion on the current Tour de France, learn how he approached gravel, and know what he thinks about possible new arrivals of European riders in China, we refer you to our weekly podcast Bla Bla Bike where you can enjoy the remaining minutes of the interview.

Photo Credit: Adrian Hoe