"I think we should also ask Mathieu the Pogacar question" - Jasper Stuyven ready to begin season at Volta ao Algarve

Jasper Stuyven is set to kick off his 2025 campaign this week at the Volta ao Algarve. The 32-year-old Lidl-Trek rider, who claimed victory at Milano-Sanremo in 2021 and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2020, will play a crucial role in Jonathan Milan’s sprint train this season and has ambitions of his own.

Stuyven recently spoke with In de Leiderstrui about his winter preparation and thoughts on the upcoming season.

"My wife and I have lost our hearts to South Africa a bit and it is nice to spend the winter months there, because it is warm there. She really enjoys it there and so do I, so it is good to stay. We can train well there, on beautiful roads. It is also a paradise for mountain bikers and that makes it very pleasant."

Despite concerns about safety, Stuyven has had no issues. "In terms of safety, I have never had anything: I have had more close encounters in Italy than in the months I spend there. You are a bit more aware, but you are in Italy too. And it does not have to be bad, because you probably pay a bit more attention that way."

Reflecting on his offseason, Stuyven admitted it wasn’t as active as he had hoped. "I had a good offseason, but a little less active than I had hoped. Because I had more trouble with my knee than I thought.

"I was also a bit sick at the beginning of December, but otherwise I had a good build-up. In terms of timing, that wasn't all bad. I'm happy with where I am and the road I've traveled, so hopefully I can build on that."

Stuyven is eager to contribute to Milan’s success in the Tour de France, building on their strong performances in the Giro. "I think it's great to go to the Tour with such a clear goal and such a top sprinter. In the Giro we showed that it is a train that can work extremely well and it would be great to repeat that success in the Tour."

Clearly he’s just as excited about Milan at the Tour as we are!

According to Stuyven, one of the biggest differences last year was that the team had a strong start with a well-prepared squad. "The biggest difference last year is that everyone had a good preparation. In the years before, someone had always been sick or we were struggling with injuries, which meant we couldn't start with our A-team.

"Last season, we had the team we wanted, at full strength. And that also applied to the first reserves, so we could still move them around."

That stability helped bring confidence to the team. "That obviously brings a good vibe to the team. If you can force things at the important moments, that brings confidence to the team. And that ball keeps rolling quickly. That started in Sanremo, but in the E3 - a race that we had not ridden well so far - we also did very well. In Gent-Wevelgem we were able to continue that, by being present at the right moments."

Stuyven shared his perspective on race tactics, particularly in classics. "My personal opinion is that we don't have to ride at the front. That could give us an extra man in the final. But it also depends on race situations, for example whether Milan is there or not."

He also pointed out how Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar have changed racing dynamics. "I think we should also ask Mathieu the Pogacar question, when you see how he drives him home in the last time in Flanders.

"Those two have something extra and Wout who can go with it, but who also had a bad year. We will have to create certain situations, but it is also like this: you can be in a group of ten with four men, but if you go to the Kwaremont and there are three better."

Stuyven explained how having numerical superiority in a group does not always translate to control. "Suppose you hypothetically have four men left and two of them are already happy that they can follow, then you actually only have two. At first glance it looks like we have the upper hand, but that is not actually the case. It is easier said than done."

His role within the team will depend on these dynamics, "My role will depend on the specific situations. Mads can always keep his sprint in reserve, which is a great weapon in the classics. Gent-Wevelgem was a very good example, where Mads also finishes it off. Those are the moments we have to try to go for."

Stuyven remains confident following his strong 2024 performances, "For me it was nice to reach such a high level last year, in which I can fight for podium places and victories. That gave me a lot of confidence, but sometimes it's also a shame that you don't see it cashed in."

While his position in the peloton remains strong, Stuyven acknowledges the importance of simply getting back into the races. "A standout doesn't change much for me. Getting back into the races is the most important thing for me."