At his best, Amador was like Sepp Kuss for Valverde and Carapaz — but on his darkest day, he cheated death

For years, Andrey Amador was a staple in a Movistar team that thrived on leading the pack. Fans came to recognize his face as he powered at the front, often putting them on the edge of their seats. Amador was part of the furniture at the Spanish team during its heyday, a rider you could count on. But since his dramatic departure in 2019, things started to unravel — so much so that his career has now come to an end.

When you're 38 years old, retiring from professional cycling is no surprise, but Amador seemingly would have liked to keep going for a while longer. He joined EF Education-EasyPost in 2023, aiming to recapture the form he’d shown with Movistar. That form, however, had slipped away after his move to INEOS Grenadiers. Some might call it karma, given the controversy surrounding his 2019 switch. After all, why did he rip up a supposedly signed contract to join INEOS instead?

At the time, Amador’s agent, Giuseppe Acquadro, was a powerful figure in the cycling world. He had been Movistar’s go-to for securing top talent but started shifting his alliances to INEOS. Slowly but surely, INEOS became the beneficiary of Acquadro’s network, leading to Amador’s move. Movistar boss Eusebio Unzué reluctantly agreed to let him go but made it clear that Acquadro’s riders were no longer welcome. It was a breaking point — the Amador transfer was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

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Amador believed joining INEOS was the right move. In 2019, the multi-million British formation had just won the Tour de France with Egan Bernal, and there was no indication that a decline might be coming. But his time there didn’t go as planned. In 2020, his debut year, he raced two grand tours — the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España — but he never made the INEOS roster for a major race again in the following two years.

This was a far cry from his Movistar years, where he was always one of the first names picked after the team leaders. From 2010 onward, he consistently raced at least one grand tour a year, and from 2014 onward, he often did two (the one exception to this being 2016). His words from early 2020 now feel bittersweet: "Who wouldn’t be happy with an INEOS contract? I’m thrilled to be part of this incredible team. I spent my whole career with Movistar and owe them a lot, but now feels like the right time for new motivation. I’m excited to keep racing alongside Richard Carapaz, with whom I achieved great things in the 2019 Giro."

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It sounded like a good idea, but unfortunately, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. INEOS’ interest in Amador made sense — he had been one of Movistar’s best climbers in finals of tough races. He frustrated the peloton with long, punishing turns at the front, which lasted longer than an episode of Game of Thrones, reminiscent of Sepp Kuss. Movistar would chase down rivals whenever one of their nine leaders had a plan, and Amador always delivered. He was also a trusted workhorse for Alejandro Valverde, who could probably draw a picture of Amador’s backside by heart.

Movistar seemed to strike the right chord with Amador. Despite only winning twice in his career — a stage in the 2012 Giro and the 2018 Klasika Primavera, gifted to him by Valverde — his unbelievable willingness to sacrifice for others made him a beloved teammate. This trait caught INEOS’s attention, but by then, teams like UAE Team Emirates and Jumbo-Visma were taking over. INEOS faded, and so did its tactics. Instead of daring moves and dominant turns, the team often raced anonymously, with leaders struggling to keep up. Gone were the days of crazy plans or long turns at the front.

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Like a cornered cat, Amador made one last move in 2023, joining EF. It’s likely Carapaz put in a good word for his friend, but even the Ecuadorian would have noticed his legs didn’t burn the same way when Amador pulled for him. Amador rode the Tour de France in 2023, though Carapaz crashed out on the first day. By April 2024, Amador’s season came to an unexpected end.

While training in Spain in May, Amador was hit by a truck. The vehicle ran over his bike and foot, breaking his foot and ankle. At first, his diagnosis seemed manageable. After all, Amador cheated death that day. At the time, no one could have predicted that the accident would mark the end of his career. In November, Amador announced his forced retirement.

"It was not an easy decision. It wasn't planned, but in life and cycling, there are times when you have to listen to your body and where taking care of your health should be the priority," he said. "Although I am saying goodbye to professional cycling, I will always remain connected to this sport I love. I cherish the beautiful memories and the satisfaction of always performing at my best on the bike. Now, there will be moments of rest and time to take care of my health. Thank you all, and see you always."