“It would be fantastic if I could put in another good performance” – Arensman ready for Rwanda after Tour de France wins

Thymen Arensman will line up for the Netherlands at the World Championships in Rwanda, tackling the time trial on Sunday before turning his attention to the road race next week. After a summer defined by two stage victories at the Tour de France, the 25-year-old Dutchman arrives with confidence, but also a measured approach to what lies ahead.

“It would be fantastic if I could put in another good performance,” says Arensman.

Those Tour de France wins, at Luchon-Superbagnères and La Plagne, transformed his season and raised his profile. The celebrations back home gave him a new perspective. “In the Tour de France, you live in a bubble. If you win the first stage, you're already focused on the next opportunities. You don't see as much of the outside world. But when you compete in the professional criteriums in the Netherlands after the Tour de France, you truly realize the impact those stage wins have had.”

“People were genuinely moved by what I accomplished,” he continues. “That was amazing. Kids wanting to take pictures with you, signing autographs. I'd never experienced that before.”

Despite the attention, Arensman quickly shifted back to routine. “To be honest, I actually enjoyed getting back to what I'm paid to do: cycling. Just getting back into my normal rhythm and focusing on the next goals for this year. Those are the Tour of Britain, the World Championships in Rwanda, and the Italian autumn races.”

Looking at Rwanda, Arensman admits the challenge is unlike anything he has faced before. “I'm going there with an open mind. It's primarily a good investment for the future, working towards a very specific one-day race and a time trial, which I want to work on more in the coming years.”

The men’s road race, at over 260 kilometers, will push him to new limits. “I think the World Championships in Rwanda will be my longest day on the bike ever. I perform strongly in stage races because I seem to get less tired as the race progresses compared to many competitors. But now everyone is fresh at the start.”

With the Dutch team set to spend nearly two weeks together, Arensman is looking forward to the environment as much as the racing. “We'll be there for almost two weeks with the federation, and I hope it will be an enjoyable experience to prepare for such an event with your country. I expect the adjustment to be easy; there's no time difference, and the altitude is comparable to where I live in Andorra.

“I'm not predetermining my results; I'm going to try to make a good season even better. It would be fantastic if I could put in a good performance in the time trial and the road race. And deliver performances I can build on.”