"I know what my role is" - Jasper Stuyven fully willing to sacrifice in service of Wout van Aert & Remco Evenepoel in Olympic road race

Due to the smaller nature of the peloton at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games road race, there are many teams with a viable gold medal threat. Not many teams have multiple potential winners, although for Belgium, in Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel this is the case.

With Jasper Stuyven and Tiesj Benoot completing the four man lineup, there will be a lot to do for the two domestiques in service of the superstar leadership duo on Saturday, 3rd of August in Paris. "Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel are the leaders, how we do it tactically, we keep to ourselves," previews Stuyven in conversation with Feltet. "But we are one of the countries that is racing to win gold. We have to hope that we do well and it all goes our way.”

Whilst for many nations, Stuyven himself would be seen as a leader and an option for the gold medal, the Lidl-Trek rider is under no illusions about what his role will be in the road race. "I'm really happy, so I'm looking forward to keeping up the form. But no, I'm not going to argue that I should be leader," he explains. "I know what my role is, it is already an honour to ride the Olympic Games.”

The 32-year-old was also alongside Van Aert and Evenepoel at the most recent World Championships in Glasgow last year, and although neither leader were able to claim the Rainbow Jersey as Mathieu van der Poel secured victory. This time though, it's Paris and a somewhat familiar location for the riders, giving the traditional Tour de France finale in the French capital. "It's a beautiful place, but it's not quite the same as when we end up together in Paris on the Champs Élysées," Stuyven concludes however, noting a bunch sprint finale is unlikely.