“Finding that balance is even more the challenge of this year than results” – Thymen Arensman talks Tom Dumoulin and the mental struggles of professional cycling

Thymen Arensman recently shared some fascinating insights about Tom Dumoulin and his own experiences in professional cycling on the De Wielerredactie podcast. His reflections touched on hero worship, personal struggles, and a shift in mentality as he continues to find the best approach for his career.

Arensman began by recalling a special moment from his junior days, when he had the chance to train alongside Dumoulin and Wilco Kelderman at the 2017 World Championships in Bergen.

"I can express how I look at you with a beautiful story," he said directly to Dumoulin. "You may remember: the World Championships in Bergen, 2017. Daan Hoole and I did the time trial for juniors, so we were allowed to go with you and Wilco Kelderman to reconnaissance. That was really a dream come true. So for me, it is also very special to have this conversation, as a hero or idol."

It’s clear that Dumoulin's influence on the younger generation of Dutch riders has been profound. His success in Grand Tours and time trials made him a reference point for talents like Arensman, who have since followed in his footsteps.

However, Arensman’s journey in professional cycling has not been without struggles. He opened up about the mental and physical toll of striving for improvement, admitting that overtraining and extreme attention to diet did not always bring positive results.

"In 2023, I felt that for the first time. You really want to, but sometimes it has the opposite effect. It is then very difficult to break that circle, but hopefully, I will have succeeded this winter."

To address these struggles, Arensman has made key changes to his training philosophy, including working with a new coach who has encouraged him to focus less on strict nutrition and extreme training hours.

"He says: you do less, and you don't focus so much on nutrition. He slows me down enormously. I have surrendered to it. His most important rule is to have fun. That makes such a big difference, that you are not wringing yourself out. Too much focus on weight, weighing food, or doing those 6.5-hour rides... that does not necessarily make you better."

This shift in perspective comes after a particularly difficult period, with the Giro d’Italia in 2023 marking a low point in his career.

"In Romandie, I had no power anymore, but in the first stage of the Giro, I was very disappointed. When Narváez did win for the team, but I cried in the back of the bus. I had been working on that for months, but something had gone wrong. Then I realized that it might not work for me to be under 70 kilograms."

His struggles with self-doubt have also been an ongoing battle. Even before smaller races, Arensman finds himself worrying about his ability to perform, particularly in team-oriented events like the Valencia team time trial.

"I notice that I get nervous before competitions. Before Valencia, it was so in my head that I could be dropped in the team time trial, that I called my coach for two hours. That is the uncertainty of a professional cyclist. Finding that balance is even more the challenge of this year than results."

Despite these challenges, 2024 is set to be a major season for Arensman, as he will make his Tour de France debut. While he admits to feeling more connected to the Italian and Spanish racing culture, he is intrigued by the brutal opening week of the Tour.

"I have more in common with the Italian and Spanish culture, but maybe the Tour is fun. Did you see that first week? Those are eight classics in a row, those stages."

Ultimately, Arensman is chasing a sense of fulfillment in his career, rather than being obsessed with winning at all costs.

"I want to get the most out of my career and body and be satisfied when I stop, whatever that is. A satisfied feeling, that's what I'm after. Whether that's with a victory, third or sixth place, doesn't matter to me. Tadej Pogacar is also a good example of that: an absurd talent, but he also just has a lot of fun."