"If you’re 32 years old you don’t want to wait until after the Tour de France to sign" - Victor Campenaerts keen for swift renewal to Lotto Dstny contract

Now aged 32, the much-loved star of the breakaways, Victor Campenaerts is heading towards the autumn of his career. With 2024 a contract year for the Belgian, he's keen to swiftly sort out a renewal with Lotto Dstny.

"We’re talking with the team, we’re talking with other teams. We still have time, it’s early in the year," Campenaerts told GCN prior to the start of Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday, a race in which the Belgian came home in 34th position.

Although Campenaerts is content that there's still time, he doesn't want to be waiting around for too long. As he says, his preference is stay with Lotto Dstny although he wants discussion to start formerly sooner rather than later. "I’m actually very happy with the team. We’re not teammates, but friends," he explains. "If you’re 32 years old, though, you don’t want to wait until after the Tour de France to sign a contract."

“I feel very good and I’m in good shape. I’m trying to go for a good result, like in every race. It’s always possible in Flanders races – every scenario is possible – but you can’t miss out on an important point," Campenaerts concludes, optimistic about the coming weeks of racing. "It’s all about positioning, so you can be totally out of the race in one split second, or in one split second you can get yourself into the race with one big advantage over the favourites. That’s so nice about Flanders racing.”