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The Unexpected Monuments of Marcel Camprubí

Marcel Camprubí is one of only four riders who started and finished both Paris-Roubaix and Liège-Bastogne-Liège this year. It shows the versality of the 23-year-old rider from Barcelona. Initially it wasn’t the plan that Marcel would ride these two monuments in cycling but sometimes opportunities come along that you just can’t say no to.

3 May 2025.

Marcel joined Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team three years ago after a career in triathlon where he even won a bronze medal as a junior at the Spanish championships. A foot injury and closed pools during COVID-19 left him with the bike only. A second place at the Spanish road championships in 2021 showed his talent straight away. Marcel is a talent on many terrains, but he never thought Paris-Roubaix would be one of those.

“I was a bit surprised I got the call to ride Paris-Roubaix,” Marcel says from his home in Barcelona. “After Tour of Hellas [where he was sixth overall] I thought Giro d’Abruzzo would suit me better but of course I didn’t say no to Roubaix. It’s the kind of race everyone knows and watches on TV. My first memory was the rainy edition in 2021 where Gianni Moscon was on the attack and Sonny Colbrelli won. A professional career in cycling wasn’t even on my mind that year,” he says with a smile. “Let alone actually riding this monumental race myself.”

In a cycling team you need to be versatile as a rider, especially as a young rider who only recently started a career in cycling. There were also injuries and illnesses in the team this Spring season so quite unexpectedly but full of motivation and a little bit of anxiety, Marcel travelled to the north of France.

“I was a bit afraid at first, I must admit but being part of such a fantastic and historical event is a dream. During the recon my first thoughts on the first sectors of cobbles I ever did were: ’hey that’s easy,’ he smiles.

“When we rode on and more sectors came along, I became more tired. Then we arrived at Trouée d’Arenberg and I thought: ‘what on earth is this? This is not a road!’ My recon and first encounter with cobbles really went from: ‘hey this is easy to what on earth!’ But I like a challenge because cycling is not all about the legs. In this race it’s about being brave and having the skills as well. I was a bit scared for race day but also super motivated.”

“I was a bit surprised I got the call to ride Paris-Roubaix,”

Camprubí has a positive mindset to everything he does and so he smiled on the start podium and raced at the front of the race, even jumping on some moves in the early kilometres. He finished in 88th place, as one of only two Spanish riders.

“The race itself was absolutely amazing. From that start podium with all these people to all the crowds on the side of the road. I felt like I had wings and forgot about the pain and the cobbles. The Velodrome is a wonderful place for a finish, and everyone says finishing this race is an achievement, but I had hoped to be in the race a bit longer. I had a flat at 150 kilometres to go and dropped from the peloton at that point. I always think how I can add value to the team and help others but sadly I was never really in the race.”

In the next races Marcel added a lot of value to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. He pulled at the front in Ronde van Limburg where Matteo Moschetti finished in fifth place and lined up for Brabantse Pijl where Tom Pidcock came in eleventh place.

“Brabantse Pijl was my first race with Tom,” Marcel says. “It gave me so much motivation to race with him but also extra pressure. That didn’t come from Tom. He is such a down to earth and humble guy. The pressure came from myself. Tom can win in every race he takes the start, so I needed to be there to help him do that. I was happy I could show my qualities by pulling at the front but then also help as much as I could later. I gave it my all.”

“The race itself was absolutely amazing. From that start podium with all these people to all the crowds on the side of the road. I felt like I had wings and forgot about the pain and the cobbles.”

Camprubí’s legs were getting more tired race after race, but his spirits were always up. You will not often catch Marcel without a smile on his face, so he was ready for more. In a very cold and rainy Flèche Wallonne he helped Pidcock get to a third place. He himself finished in 33rd place. His plane ticket back home for that same night was cancelled because sports director Michael Albasini asked him to stay for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

“That’s the biggest compliment,” Marcel smiles. “They can say ‘thank you’ and ‘good job’ but asking me for another monument, knowing that Tom wants me there too, is the biggest compliment for me. That gave me true superpower. They were happy with how I worked and saw I was of value. That means a lot.”

After taking on Paris-Roubaix, Camprubí lined up for another monument, but this one was completely different. From the chaos and crowds of Paris-Roubaix to the calm and sunny Belgian Ardennes for Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

“The first hours of Liège were easy. It was never like the chaos we had in Roubaix so I tried to save energy as much as I could. We focused on the first climbs, help Tom and get him in position for La Redoute. I didn’t have the best legs anymore so that was a bit frustrating for myself, but I learned amazing lessons these weeks.”

Camprubí is 23 years young but has only been a pro cyclist for three years now. He is learning every race and wants to show his value each and every day. Getting the opportunity to race monumental races like Roubaix, Flèche and Liège alongside Tom Pidcock taught him a lot about himself.

“The biggest takeaway for me is that I learned that when I am good, I can do races at this level, I can race with the good guys. On moments when things don’t go great, it’s these moments and these memories that give you extra motivation. I can help a team leader; I can hold my own in the hardest races and do the jobs I was asked to do at the very highest level. Before these weeks this all seemed like a dream and unachievable, but I was there,” Marcel adds.

He learned a lot from riding with Tom Pidcock, and riding with the sole purpose of helping his team leader get to the final in the best way possible.

“I learned from racing with Tom how far you can take professionalism. He is not only focusing on himself, but he wants all the team, all of us, to do things perfectly so we can do our best effort to help him win. I was surprised how he loves to compete and wants to win. If you want things and are really motivated to suffer, everything is possible. That was really inspirational to see, and I take that with me in all the work I do.”

After 29 race days and almost 5,000 kilometres of racing, Marcel travels back to Barcelona to rest and recover and then build towards the next goals with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

“I am proud to be part of this team. I am proud that I could show myself in these big races, be versatile and be of value. After these long weeks away from home I am even more motivated to keep on going and become a better cyclist every day.”