"It is still difficult to estimate where I stand against the top riders" - Marijn van den Berg hopes for Tour de France nomination

After more than successful spring Marijn van den Berg sat down to put together his next plans for 2024. Marijn's nearest plans are to race GP Aargau (June 7) and Tour de Suisse (June 9-16) before the National championships. But the main deal should come in July, when the 24-year-old hopes to make a Tour de France debut with EF Education-EasyPost.

"There is a chance that I will go, but it will depend on a number of things whether it will actually happen," he says in a chat with WielerRevue. If I am there, I will have to create my own opportunities anyway. I will not get any support, even if I do a lot on my own throughout the season. I have sometimes discussed with the team whether they can bring in a man to help me. I think this year has been important to see whether it would be worth it. Well, I guess we have succeeded for the time being."

The Tour is the main focus of the Dutchman, but in case he is selected, which stage would he aim for? "Stage eight," Van den Berg says without thinking. The stage to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises reminds a mini-Amstel with the 3.200 altitude meters spread across dozens of short climbs over the course of the 176 kilometer-long stage at the end of first racing block.

"Although it is still difficult to estimate where I stand against the top riders. Actually, I have not ridden many classics yet, but that is my ambition for next year. This season I made my debut in Milano-Sanremo, but I still struggled with the after-effects of a fall on my head," he points out. "Normally, that is a race that should suit me very well. I think that I still have margin, if I want to join the world's top."