One of the all-time great performances in triathlon! Kristian Blummenfelt wins his first ever PTO Tour race 👏
"Kristian Blummenfelt is not to be messed with. They mean business" - Victor Campenaerts backs triathlon superstar to make impact after switching to professional cycling
CyclingWednesday, 31 July 2024 at 10:42
Gold medallist at the Tokyo Olympic Games in the triathlon and a world record holder in the Ironman, Kristian Blummenfelt has set his sight on a career in the professional cycling peloton and even been very outspoken about his goals of winning the Tour de France.
"We don't go cycling to retire. We go cycling to make a difference. There must be a yellow jersey in the Tour de France, it's as simple as that," the 30-year-old's coach recently told TV2 and although these quotes have been met by derision from some in the cycling world, Lotto Dstny's Victor Campenaerts, a stage winner at the 2024 Tour de France, doesn't believe Blummenfelt's goals are quite as far fetched as may first seem.
"Mentally, they are unmatched. If you think I am a professional idiot... I can guarantee everyone that I will not even reach their heels," Campenaerts says in conversation with Het Nieuwsblad about the triathlon superstar. "After his Olympic title in Tokyo I sent a message to congratulate Kristian and asked them if they were going to rest now. They had taken one day to visit the Olympic village, one day to return home and then they started training for the next goal."
Whilst there have been rumours of Team Jayco AlUla's interest among others, no contract has officially been signed as of yet for Blummenfelt. "I asked his coach if he realized that it would not be easy for them to ride in a professional peloton. They realized that, he said, because they were not owls. He describes 2025 as the year in which they will seek out the limits," Campenaerts explains, noting how bike handling could be the biggest issue. "To ride through a corner as fast as possible until Kristian falls, for example. To go through the corner at the same speed next time without falling. His first race will also be crucial. Kristian will immediately claim his place, so that everyone understands that Blummenfelt is not to be messed with. They mean business. Their plan is too concrete not to be true."
Campenaerts also confirmed the rumours of talks with a World Tour team. "But when they heard that the management of that team thought that riders also had a right to a week's rest and a few beers after a Tour de France, for example, they dropped out. They didn't think that was the right team. In other words: whichever team it is, they will have to want to go along with the story completely," the Lotto Dstny rider concludes.
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