Cyclist Nikolas Klimavičius, who has spent eight years in the cycling sport, exemplifies how a young person’s determination, willpower, and the right people at the right time can nurture talent. Noticed by his cycling coach during school, he represented a Belgian cycling team throughout his career, and about six months ago returned to Lithuania to join the only professional cycling team, Energus. “Representing my country is a huge honor and an even greater motivation,” says the nineteen-year-old athlete.

Klimavičius reflects on the difficult beginnings of his career and how he came to the decision to represent the Lithuanian cycling team.

Competitiveness Fuels Improvement

“I grew up in Utena. In the fifth or sixth grade, during a physical education class, I was noticed by cycling coach Martynas Maniušis, who invited me to join a training session. I remember my first training, where I was tested for physical capabilities, riding an old bicycle. Training was indeed much harder than I had imagined,” recalls Klimavičius.

He mentions that he immediately loved the speed, adrenaline, and drafting in cycling from the start; even injuries did not stop him but motivated him to push forward. Victories helped him believe in his abilities.

“I was never the one who felt like a favorite from the beginning; I always felt something was missing. It wasn’t until two years later that I felt improved and capable of more – this was significantly influenced by my experience in races and training camps abroad. I’m grateful to my coach for believing in me all this time and helping me rise. It was his support that allowed me to go to Belgium and successfully represent the ‘VZW WP de Molenspurters Meulebeke’ team.

Belgium was where my major breakthrough happened, as the number of races increased significantly – I would compete against at least 150 other cyclists in my age group on a regular workday, while in Lithuania, races usually attract up to 80 participants, so the competition is much smaller. Therefore, in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France, everything is possible for us Lithuanian cyclists – the number and quality of races are higher, and the financial conditions are accessible. This way, you invest in yourself,” Klimavičius shares, noting that his first U23 season was highly successful.

This year, Nikolas became the U23 Lithuanian Road Champion and placed third in the elite group. He also enjoyed victories in Belgium, winning the Interclub and Kermess races early in the season.

Representing His Country – The Greatest Motivation

When asked what helped him maintain motivation along his journey, Nikolas mentions the constant support of his family and coach.

“During my second year in the sport, I lost my father, and my coach became my authority – he was the one who taught me invaluable lessons, how to think logically rather than emotionally, and how to listen to others. I remember thinking about quitting cycling – I didn’t attend training for several months and tried other sports, but after a while, I decided to return, feeling embarrassed to face my coach. He understood everything, accepted me back, and continued to support me. I am very grateful for that.

I can boldly say that cycling has shaped me into who I am today – determined, resilient, and eager to move forward and try,” the athlete shares.

It’s no surprise that this year, with the appointment of his first coach, Martynas Maniušis, as the main sports director of the Energus cycling team, the athlete was invited to join his national team.

Nikolas Klimavičius reveals that the first cycling team he represented was his hometown’s Utena Cycling Team, which reassures him about his choice to return to Lithuania.

“When considering Lithuania, I saw myself precisely in the Energus cycling team – its breakthrough, the assembly of strong cyclists, and the rapid expansion of the project, with the establishment of the Energus Talent Academy for youth development within just one year, truly captivated me. Currently, there is no equivalent to such a team – athletes have access to the latest technical facilities, a strong competition calendar, so I realized that I want to be here and contribute to the team’s victories.”

According to Nikolas, representing his country is both a huge honor and even greater motivation: “The support you receive as part of a Lithuanian team is something remarkable, especially when competing abroad,” says the cyclist.

Fully Committed to Cycling

Now in his eighth year of cycling, Nikolas states that achieving serious results in the sport requires full commitment.

“When riding in Belgium, I had already reconciled with being away from Lithuania a lot, often even celebrating holidays in another country. But to chase my dream and achieve maximum results, that’s just how it is – you have to sacrifice up some things along the way.”

Currently, Nikolas’s biggest dream is to participate in the 2028 Olympic Games and the World Road Championship, which will take place in Belgium in 2030, which he considers his second home: “When I see myself competing against Olympians in races, I realize that my time will come. To achieve my goal, I know I have to work hard. I am confident that with the Energus team, I will be able to gather those essential UCI points and thus come closer to my Olympic dream.”

The Energus cycling team is the only professional UCI cycling team in Lithuania, launched in 2024. The team has welcomed the 2025 season with 11 promising cyclists from Lithuania and Latvia, providing them with new bikes, an updated vehicle fleet, and establishing a modern sports base. In the same year, the team opened an unprecedented “Energus” talent academy in Vilnius, Pilaitė. This September, the team was joined by Ignatas Konovalovas, a former professional cyclist and Giro d’Italia stage winner, as the team’s new leader.