Would his comeback have been successful, he would have been 52 years old when riding the race.
(meta data) TITLE: Should Andrea Tafi return to Paris-Roubaix at 52? - Cycling Weekly (meta data) PUBLISHER: https://www.facebook.com/CyclingWeekly (meta data) PUBLISHED DATETIME: 2018-11-09T08:08:02+00:00 Subscribe Now Digital Editions Latest Issue Link to home Product News Tour de France Giro d'Italia Vuelta a España World Championships Bike Reviews Bike Components Bike Accessories Buyer's Guides Latest Fitness Training Plans Bike Fit UK Cycling Events Bikes For Sale CW Awards Cycling Weekly CW Magazine Tour Magazine Type to search Press enter or click on the search icon # Should Andrea Tafi return to Paris-Roubaix at 52? The 1999 winner has said he's found a team to help him make his comeback Richard Windsor November 9, 2018 8:08 am Andrea Tafi in the 1999 Paris-Roubaix (Watson) Paris-Roubaix ### Magnus Backstedt I guess if he wants to have a go at it by all means, why not? I am just questioning the timing of it a bit because to ride at that level he needs to have gone through all the UCI rules and be registered on whereabouts, but if he can then why not? >>> Andrea Tafi says he has found a team for Paris-Roubaix return at 52 years old We were on Alessio-Bianchi together in 2004, he helped me win Paris-Roubaix that year, so I do know him quite well and he's definitely bonkers enough to want to have another go. I wouldn't do it. To get to the level where you can compete, and I don't think there's any point in coming back just to be on the start line, the amount of time I've been out of the sport and not riding for 30 hours a week it'd probably take five years to get back there. But while he's been away from the sport for quite some time and not having worked with a team, he has been riding his bike, so it's interesting. The safety side of things, the worry that you might hurt yourself or damage yourself at 52, it'll never enter his mind. I don't think this will damage his legacy in any way. There will be enough media attention for it to be a half-tidy investment for someone to take up the start line and take the slot off someone else. I don't think it's going to do his reputation any harm. Magnus Backstedt won Paris-Roubaix in 2004. He currently runs a cycle coaching business. ### Max Sciandri I run into Tafi every now and then and this year he was really, really into riding his bike and besides that he's into doing amateur races and then I heard he was winning them. So when I saw that he wanted to return to Paris-Roubaix I wasn't surprised. It adds up. But comebacks are never really successful in any sport. How many top sportsmen make a comeback and win? F1 drivers, skiers, football players, none of them. Plus, cycling is a tough sport and it's a totally different ball game now than when he was racing. I would leave with what he's done and what he's won. Coming back won't damage his reputation, but it's just an unrealistic challenge. I don't think he can finish a race; maybe he could but that's the limit. I ride a bit when I have time. I got back into riding a bit more recently and when you do four hours you're quite knackered, so I don't see a six-and-a-half-hour race happening. Your body is different when you're older: my neck gets stiffer, my back hurts a bit more, you are going against your natural ageing process. There's the danger side too — imagine if Tafi came down with a guy like Greg Van Avermaet, someone who could win it. That would be a big mess; is it worth the risk? Also I'm into vintage bikes now and I've got my bikes from the 90s — you get on a BMC and a bike from the 90s and there's a massive difference. Even the equipment is so different. He's going to go through a whole lot of different things besides the age. Max Sciandri rode Paris-Roubaix seven times between 1995 and 2004. He is currently DS with Movistar. This article originally appeared in Cycling Weekly magazine November 1 issue ## Upcoming events ### Ride Warwickshire August 24 ### Wye Tour August 31 ### Orro Sussex Downs Sportive September 07 More events (meta data) TITLE: Tafi says he's found a team for 2019 | Cyclingnews.com (meta data) PUBLISHER: https://www.facebook.com/cyclingnews (meta data) PUBLISHED DATETIME: 2005-04-11 00:00 By Cycling News November 08, 2018 8:24pm Updated: November 08, 2018 9:13pm Race: Paris-Roubaix # Tafi says he's found a team for 2019 52-year-old a step closer to fulfilling dream of returning to Paris-Roubaix 20 years after win 1 / 5 Andrea Tafi (Mapei) (Getty Images)2 / 5 Andrea Tafi on the Paris-Roubaix course in 2017 (Bettini Photo)3 / 5 A fan gets a photo with Andrea Tafi at a Colnago event in 2018 (Bettini Photo)4 / 5 Andrea Tafi speaks at the Quick-Step press conference ahead of the 2018 Tour of Flanders (Bettini Photo)5 / 5 Andrea Tafi (CSC) (Getty Images) Skip AdSkip Ad Italian Andrea Tafi has taken another step toward fulfilling his goal of competing in Paris-Roubaix 20 years after his victory there in 1999. The 52-year-old said this week that he has signed with a team that could gain entry into the French spring Monument. ### Related Articles Tafi hoping to return to Paris-Roubaix at 52Lefevere: I don't understand Tafi's comebackBettini questions Tafi's plans to ride 2019 Paris-RoubaixDimension Data 'guarantee' Tafi will not race Paris-Roubaix with themTafi's last RoubaixTafi's forever Tifo Tafi told Het Laaste Nieuws he was not yet able to name which team he had signed with, but the announcement should follow in the coming weeks. Tafi went public with his plan last month and initially approached Patrick Lefevere, general manger of the Quick-Step Floors team where Tafi rode during the most successful part of his career, about a ride for the 2019 season. Lefevere encouraged Tafi's idea, which he called "beautiful," but he didn't offer the Italian a spot on his team. Tafi now says he found a team that offered him the opportunity. "But I still cannot say which team it is," Tafi said, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. "Everyone says I'm crazy, but I do not think I am in my heart. I know how hard it is, I'm training and I'm going to see what's going to happen. It will be difficult, but it's something I absolutely want to do - it's something no one has ever done in cycling history." Tafi retired after the 2005 Paris-Roubaix having notched 30 career victories, including the Tour of Flanders, Il Lombardia and Paris-Roubaix. He still competes in masters events in Tuscany, and he said he's looking for a unique way to turn back the clock and celebrate the 20th anniversary of his Paris-Roubaix win. Tafi runs a cycling clothing business and a holiday rental business 'Il Borghetto' with apartments named after the races he won. It leaves him with time to train and take his 20th anniversary celebrations seriously. He has ridden a number of masters races and gran fondos this year, even taking part in a UCI-sanctioned road race in Hungary in July. He has already contacted the UCI about being added to the anti-doping control pool of elite athletes and Biological Passport for the minimum six-months needed. Tafi said previously that he had reached out to several Pro Continental teams that are likely to secure wildcard invitations to Paris-Roubaix in 2019. Paris-Roubaix wildcard teams in 2018 included Vérandas Willems-Crelan, Direct Energie, Cofidis, Fortuneo-Samsic, Delko Marseille Provence KTM, Vital Concept and WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic. ## Related Articles ## Tafi hoping to return to Paris-Roubaix at 52 Italian working on a professional comeback 20 years after winning the Hell of the North October 18, 2018 5:15pm ## Lefevere: I don't understand Tafi's comeback 'A 90-year-old could start Paris-Roubaix. I just don't know how long they would last' says boss November 11, 2018 10:19am ## Bettini questions Tafi's plans to ride 2019 Paris-Roubaix 'You need to do other things in life at 52 years of age' November 28, 2018 2:04pm ## Dimension Data 'guarantee' Tafi will not race Paris-Roubaix with them 'First reaction would be to check the calendar to see if it was April 1,' says Aldag November 29, 2018 11:27am ## Tafi's last Roubaix Andrea Tafi (Saunier Duval) rolled in at the back of the main peloton in 42nd place after riding his... April 11, 2005 12:00am ## Tafi's forever Tifo Tim Maloney, European Editor in Lamporecchio On Saturday evening at an elegant Tuscan villa high in... May 17, 2005 12:00am ### Related Riders #### Andrea Tafi ### Cyclingnews Newsletter #### Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter, from Immediate Media Company Limited. You can unsubscribe at any time. 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Andrea Tafi (cyclist)
Career.:Comeback attempt.
Having competed in amateur Masters races for several years, Tafi announced in October 2018 that he would seek a comeback in 2019 to race Paris–Roubaix on the twentieth anniversary of his victory. On 8 November 2018, it was reported that he had found a team to ride with and that would attempt to receive a wildcard invitation for the event.