Jesús Del Nero
A resilient Spanish cyclist who carved out a decade-long career in the punishing world of professional road racing, specializing in the brutal classics.
Born 1982 (age 44)·Spanish cyclist·Birthday: March 16·Millennials
Biography
Jesús Del Nero's career is a testament to the grit required to survive in the peloton's middle ranks. Turning professional in 2005, the Spaniard navigated the precarious landscape of continental and Pro-Continental teams, where contracts are short and stability is rare. He showed early promise with a third-place finish at the demanding Euskal Bizikleta, but his true calling emerged on the cobbles and steep hills of Northern Europe. An eleventh-place finish in the 2007 Tour of Flanders announced him as a capable classics specialist, a rider tough enough to endure the sport's most grueling one-day races. Del Nero spent years as a reliable domestique and breakaway rider for teams like Fuji-Servetto and later NetApp-Endura, his longevity a quiet achievement in a sport that churns through talent. His story is one of persistence, a career built not on grand tour glory but on consistent, hard work in the shadows.
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.
Jesús was born in 1982, 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 Jesús Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jesús's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved a top-ten finish in a UCI ProTour event with a third place at the 2005 Euskal Bizikleta.
- Secured an impressive 11th place finish in the 2007 Tour of Flanders, one of cycling's 'Monuments'.
- Raced professionally for over a decade, competing for teams including Orbea, Saunier Duval, and NetApp-Endura.
- Participated in multiple editions of major one-day classics like Paris-Roubaix and the Giro di Lombardia.
Did You Know?
He turned professional with the Basque amateur team Olarra-Ercoreca before joining the continental squad Orbea.
Del Nero's career spanned a period of significant turmoil for his Saunier Duval team, which faced multiple doping scandals.
He was known as a strong rider for the arduous Ardennes classics races, such as La Flèche Wallonne.
“My career was spent in the grupetto, fighting just to finish and earn another contract.”
