How the top talents fared in 2023: Sheffield delivers before and after the disastrous Tour de Suisse
Sebastian Lindner
· 26.11.2023
A shadow hovers over Magnus Sheffield's season. From a purely sporting point of view, the Ineos Grenadiers talent was unable to celebrate any victories as he did in his debut year. However, the 21-year-old delivered numerous top placings and was always a contender for a top place, especially in the time trial.
But then there was the 5th stage of the Tour de Suisse. On the descent from the Albula Pass, the young American crashed - at exactly the same spot as Gino Mäder shortly afterwards. While Sheffield finished with a concussion and bruises and was discharged from hospital a short time later. the tragic accident cost Mäder his life.
Sheffield's comeback after the momentous Tour de Suisse a success
It must have been particularly bitter for Sheffield that he - like the race organisers - was also targeted by the investigating public prosecutor's office. Sheffield was ultimately acquitted of any culpability, as were the organisers, but his name will remain associated with Mäder's death for a long time to come, if only because of the crash.
Sheffield returned to racing at the beginning of September, around two and a half months after the Tour de Suisse. He no longer seemed to be burdened by the events on the Albula Pass. In the very first race, the Tour of Britain, Sheffield was always among the best riders in the medium-difficulty stages and finished fourth overall, which was synonymous with the white jersey of the best young professional.
The same picture two weeks later at the CRO Race. Once again, Sheffield is right at the front when the going gets rough. At the small uphill finish on stage 4, only Matej Mohoric was slightly faster than the American in the sprint of a breakaway group. Overall, he once again finished in 4th place and was labelled the best young rider.
Conclusion: Magnus Sheffield has proven himself
Before the Tour de Suisse, Magnus Sheffield stood out above all in the time trial. While he completed all the monuments during his classics campaign from mid-March to the end of April, among other things, and mainly provided assistance - the year before he had surprisingly won the Arrow of Brabant as a newcomer - he had already finished on the podium at the start of the season in Australia at the Tour Down Under, then at Tirreno-Adriatico and after the classics at the end of May at the Tour of Norway in the battle against the clock. He also finished fourth in the opening time trial of the Tour de Suisse.
Good on the climbs and strong in time trials - Sheffield has proven that he has everything a tour rider needs. The big national tours will still come too early for the youngster next year, but he will have to be on the radar for the one-week races if it doesn't get too steep. Sheffield has definitely arrived in the professional peloton.
