oldest age to turn pro?
 

Watching the Tour has re-ignited my dream to ride as a pro in Europe. Given that you meet the standard, what do you think would be the oldest somebody could get signed?

If you could be like Merckx, it wouldn't matter. If they could get one year's wins out of you, I bet they'd sign you at 98.

Cole

It would be great publicity for sponsors if they would get a 50 or 60 year old in there.
I'm sure social security would be a great suppliment too.
Not sure of the retirement opportunities.

What is currently for the oldest age of an amateur turned pro?

Oh, and is a 'pro' just someone who gets past category 1? Is it guaranteed those who get the points can get on a team?

Well I'm 27 in a few weeks and I'm moving to Nice in September, where I'll have an unlimited amount of time to train. I've never raced before, but I've always had a natural ability and I'd like to see how far I can take it.

Well start racing Cat 5 races and work your way up. If you have got it for real, things will fall into place after that. You have nothing to lose by trying. Good luck.

Just don't eat pizza the night before your races, or you'll have to take rather large dumps in the morning. Or maybe that's just me...

But really...if I can give one piece of advice it would be get in the FRONT or you'll spend too much energy catching up to the group after hills and out of turns.

Thanks for the encouragement :) Just wanted to know if it was actually possible.

I'd say that unless you're exceptional its going to be just as much of who you know as how well you do...hope you speak good French.

Hmm, doesn't sound too good :( Well, I'm learning French, no doubt I will improve quickly once I start socialising.

I think Ludo Dierckxsens was 27 or 28 when he turned pro.

He used to be a spray-painter in the DAF truck factory.

I would think somewhere mid to late 20's. Of course it seems that most people turn pro around 24 - 25 years old.

Mike Engelmann got a very late start and had a nice pro career. If you have the motor, folks will want you, but there's a ton to learn on top of that and miles to put in to build a base that will let you ride a pro race and training schedule.

after seeing the types of riders who dont even make domestic pro out here in Colorado... I would say 0 - .0001%. But hell, start training and racing in Europe, even if you don't go pro...who gives a damn, you are still racing in europe.

Engelmann was an accomplished runner and switched to cycling in his late 20's. He had a solid 10 year pro racing career. I raced against him plenty and the guy was so consistently strong.. He could ride many a seasoned pro into the ground..

Just like here in the US there are several categories of racing in Europe.. The racing is hard and fast, you need to get some experience racing.. Getting to the highest levels are a step by step process...

Watching the World Series last year, has re-kindled my dream of playing major league baseball. What are the chances I will get an invite to training camp..........

There's a sort of semi-pro racing called "Kermesse" (sp?) you could check out, done in Belgium. Probably a lot cheaper to live in Belgium too, friendlier, etc. Procycling magazine had a "Belgium" issue recently, one ex-racer has a fish'n'chips stand in Belgium now, and does well apparently, it's probably easier to afford to live and find a niche to make a living more easily there than in France.

Um Ben why are you a Cat 3? You have "very very slim odds" of making it pro. Maybe it is because you enjoy racing? If becoming pro is his dream, then he will find amatuer racing a blast as I am sure you do. Thus any lost time, money and mental energy will be made up for in personal accomplishments, even if it is at the amateur level, and he will have lost nothing.

Joop,

Just curious, how many hours a day will you have to commit to this venture?

Europe is SUPER competitive in cycling, look at how many races and riders there are, you'll have to be REALLY good to get a pro contract before you hit 30.

Oh I know. It is next to impossible for anyone of any age to turn pro, but hopefully he will at least enjoy the ride even if the trip is not complete.

I am twice your age but I can tell you that while there are many things to consider, one is if you try and fail, you will have the experience and probably a very enjoyable and satisfying experience that youwill have for the rest of your life. If you do not try, will you regret it for the rest of your life. Whatever decision you make, don't make it on what I or anyone else here says, determine in your own heart if you want it and do it. I can tell you from personal experience there are quite a few things I wish I had done in my life that I regret not trying. From personal experience, I have a son who just turned 21, he had a good job making good money and a new 05 Dodge Ram Hemi truck....some would say he had it made. But he said his life was boring, he went into a job and did the same thing every day and he did not want to do that. He joined the Marines and will be getting out of boot camp soon, he says it is demanding but he is glad he enlisted, afer that he will be going to electronics school in California and then who knows. Only time will tell if he made the right decision. I am proud of him and know it takes courage to enlist when there is a war going on. I don't know you but it may be that you have what it takes to do what you want but you will never know if you do not try.

With that attitude, I'd say zero...

I don't really consider my time a loss, in fact, I need something to do with myself and money is not a problem. I have been successful in other things and I'm now in a position where I don't have to work anymore and I'd like another goal to pursue, at the moment I don't really feel like my life is going anywhere as I have nothing to drive for.

I would rather try and fail than never try at all. Besides, usually it's the journey that's more rewarding than the destination.

The first thing you need when attempting anything great is the belief in yourself that you can do it, most people don't have that belief, so they discount great achievments saying they cannot be done...

I'm with glassman, how would you, or anyone on this board know, unless you tried??