29/03/2024

Laurence Pithie "missing a little bit of endurance" but hoping to take the next step at Tour of Flanders

Laurence Pithie is perhaps the biggest breakthrough of the 2024 season so far. He won the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, wore yellow at Paris-Nice and has been one of the few riders capable of responding to attacks from Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert in the cobbled classics. He takes to the start of the Tour of Flanders now in hopes of a new breakthrough.

“It’s always easy when you’re with those types of guys to try and show how good you are and get carried away. But I’m trying to stay a bit calmer in those finals and learn and see how they race,” Pithie told Cyclingnews. “I haven’t been able to stay with them till the line yet, so if I can learn a little bit each race, hopefully I’ll get closer and closer.”

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At Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne he was in the winning quartet move created by Wout van Aert. At Gent - Wevelgem he was in another quartet together with van der Poel and Lidl-Trek duo Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan. However, in both occasions, he faded after many kilometers on the attack.

“It’s been good, I just missed a little bit at the pointy end of a race but I can be happy. I’ve got the power, I’m just missing a little bit of endurance," he admits, not too unusual for a 21-year newcomer in the scene. I’m just chasing that result still. For sure I’m surprising myself at each race but I’m happy to be there.”

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This Sunday will see his Tour of Flanders debut, where he will race alongside Stefan Küng and Valentin Madouas in what is a strong block for Groupama - FDJ. “I’m super excited. No expectations, again it's a long race with a whole new dynamic. It's a Monument so everyone is extra motivated and can give a little bit more," he continues. "So I’m super motivated and I’ll try and be up there.”

He was also asked about the Giro d'Italia where he will make his debut later this spring, responding: “I’m still supposed to be going to the Giro so hopefully I can finish the Classics strongly and then build up for that. You’ve gotta have ambitious goals, so I’ll go there with the goal to try and win a stage.”