"If I ride sh*t for three weeks, then so be it" - Thomas De Gendt readying himself for last hurrah at final Vuelta a Espana

One of the most recognisable and universally liked figures in the peloton over recent years, Thomas De Gendt tackles the final Grand Tour of his career at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana.

"It's special to ride my last grand Tour. I've raced many, but I wanted to ride this Vuelta one more time," the experienced Belgian of Lotto Dstny told IDL ahead of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana. "Throughout my career, Grand Tours have been unique; they were always central to my season. I look forward to my last one but am also sad about it."

Becoming famous for his breakaway escapades and a relentlessly attacking style that even sometimes damaged his own hopes, De Gendt has won stages at all three Grand Tours, took home the King of the Mountains jersey from the 2018 Vuelta a Espana and finished on the final podium of the 2012 Giro d'Italia.

"Since the beginning of the season, it has been my goal to win a stage in the Vuelta so that I can complete the double-triple," De Gendt says, referring to his quest to get multiple stage wins at all three of the cycling's biggest stage races. He admits however, this won't be an easy task. "I did altitude training and worked more with the team's nutrition specialists. I'm getting older, and putting on weight for a Grand Tour is not easy, so I need some help."

"Night and day difference from the beginning of my career; it's not the same sport. We're on bikes, but the training and coaching method greatly differs in 13 years," he continues. "So I went all-in with that, just to be able to start this race without any regrets. If I will ride sh*t for three weeks, then so be it. I've gone all in. Hopefully, I'll have the best three weeks of my life, but I'm under no illusions either, and I know it's going to be a very tough race."

"There are a lot of chances for the breakaway specialists. It's not like the Tour, with Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel, and those guys. The classification riders in the Vuelta have a less aggressive racing style, and I think it will be a traditional Vuelta, with about ten chances for the breakaway specialists," De Gendt concludes with optmism. "So I'm not going to pick one day, but more trying to be with them where I can and work from there."