"It has has never been the perfect match for me" - Steff Cras admits to be not overly fond of Tour de France

Steff Cras leaves TotalEnergies after three seasons at the French ProTeam. A strange period for the 29-year-old Belgian in which he secured his first professional victory at Vuelta Asturias this year, and finished 11th at the Vuelta a Espana (in 2023). And while on the bike, things have been moving in the right direction (except the unfortunate crash at Itzulia Basque Country 2024), off the bike Cras had to deal with being the only non-French rider at the team. And so his move to Soudal - Quick-Step doesn't come as much of a surprise.

"I don’t feel like they blame me," he said to Het Nieuwsblad. "The team has been correct in recent months. There are just not many races left on the program that suit me."

One regret of Cras is that his team won't ride the final Monument of this season given his good sensations. "Not riding Il Lombardia is a pity. My condition is currently better than before the start of the Tour. It would be a shame not to do something with it. My season has fallen into a gap and that bothers me."

The Belgian looks back on his years in France with mixed feelings. "Within French teams there is a different culture," he explained. "There was not really a language barrier, but going to the race felt more like going to work. At The Wolfpack I mainly hope to rediscover the joy. In terms of atmosphere it will be much better."

"I want to put myself back in the spotlight and I would also like to be at the start of races like the Vuelta or the Volta a Catalunya again. In recent years I often rode those small French stage races, nobody follows that."

Tour de France is not necessarily high on Cras' wishlist for next years though. "It has has never been the perfect match for me. I’m not the biggest fan. I’ve ridden it four times, reached Paris only once. I have to admit that the Tour and Steff Cras are not the best combination. And yes, I have had my share of misery in recent years. I assume that period is behind me. Both physically and mentally I have become stronger."