Daniel Moreno
A Spanish climbing specialist with a lethal finishing kick, known for his explosive attacks on the steepest slopes of Grand Tours.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Spanish road bicycle racer·Birthday: September 5·Millennials
Biography
Daniel Moreno was the consummate late-blooming climber, a rider who saved his best for the high mountains of three-week races. The Spaniard turned professional in 2005 but truly found his niche after joining Team Katusha in 2011. There, often riding in support of Joaquim Rodríguez, Moreno revealed himself as a formidable competitor in his own right. He possessed a sharp, sudden acceleration that made him deadly on short, steep finishes, a skill that netted him multiple Grand Tour stage wins. His finest season came in 2013, where he won a stage and the points jersey at the Vuelta a España and triumphed in the one-day classic La Flèche Wallonne. Moreno's career was a model of persistence, evolving from a reliable domestique into a team leader and winner who consistently animated the most demanding races on the calendar.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Daniel was born in 1981, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Daniel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Daniel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won La Flèche Wallonne in 2013, outsprinting a select group on the Mur de Huy.
- Captured the green points jersey at the 2013 Vuelta a España, also winning a stage that year.
- Secured three career stage wins at the Vuelta a España (2011 and 2013).
- Achieved a podium finish at Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 2013, completing a stellar Ardennes campaign.
Did You Know?
His nickname in the peloton was 'Morenet' or 'Dani.'
He did not secure his first professional victory until his seventh season, in 2011.
He and Joaquim Rodríguez formed one of the most potent one-two climbing punches in the peloton for several years.
He is the older brother of professional cyclist David Moreno.
“In the mountains, you find out who you really are. The pain tells you the truth.”
