🇪🇸 #LaVuelta24 🫂🫂
"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
CyclingFriday, 16 August 2024 at 22:00
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."
Read also
claps 1visitors 438
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- The same thing was said when Tadej announced that he would ride the Giro: "he goes to Il Giro because he knows he can't win the Tour". Always negative speculations. Maybe Primoz, near to the final of his career, simply wants to try this experience.
maria2024202419-12-2024 - If Valentino Rossi could never win during his period of dominance, and massive personality, then Pogacar not winning isn't a massive surprise. Cycling isn't a Premier League global sport......only one event reaches the mainstream every year - and that's not good enough.wipperman9519-12-2024
- I don't think it's only a British thing; the biggest talents aren't usually drawn to CX. Where are all the top Italian, French, Spanish, Slovenian CX riders? Apart from Belgium, and Netherlands, it's not really a target for up and coming cyclists - as there's no career unless you move to Belgium. Other countries can't support a proper professional series, like an international sport should be able to do. Lets not forget, since 2016, British riders have won plenty of World championships; with Pidcock, Richards, Tulett & Backstedt all winning more than one..... And, there was a time when Belgium didn't rule the roost in CX; that was Switzerland, but since the advent of XC MTB, their top off-road talents race there instead of CX - and the 2nd raters not good enough for XC MTB, race CX.wipperman9519-12-2024
- "25-34 are only 13% of USA Cyclings membership" Wow. I own a bike shop, and that number comports both with what I see in the business as well as on the road and trails, but it's somehow hugely demoralizing to see it quantified. Thirteen percent?verve82519-12-2024
- What super dutch talent are we talking about?awp18-12-2024
- Yes, 25-34 are only 13% of USA Cyclings membership.awp18-12-2024
- I will take the old days when you could track your teams across 8 years. Can't imagine a new fan finding it easy.Sweep18-12-2024
- Pick better parents and/or better doping agents.
ChoppyWarburton18-12-2024 - The bike industry situation is the same as the future Dutch talent pool discussion , it’s a fakely perceived problem due to an exceptional period that’s come to an end.Mistermaumau18-12-2024
- It's all a part of the fun. Sometimes it takes a few races before you can tell who's who and what's going on.
santiagobenites18-12-2024