Olympic Games "still the main objective" for Jasper Stuyven despite last minute Tour de France call up

Jasper Stuyven, 32, was not on the preliminary startlist for the 2024 Tour de France, but he received an unexpected call on Sunday night: would he be willing to take part in the Tour? After discussing some "conditions" with his team, he decided to travel to Florence. "Physically and mentally I feel ready," Stuyven assured.

"The invitation was not a demand," Stuyven explained to Het Nieuwsblad. He could have said no, but he chose to accept the proposal. He talked with his team's sports management and his coach, who determined that the Tour would not interfere with his main goal: the Olympics. "That's still the main objective," he says.

The team offered him several assurances. One of the most important was that, following the withdrawal of Tao Geoghegan Hart due to covid, he would not have to push as hard as he could in the mountain stages to support a general classification contender. In the last Giro, Stuyven worked alongside Jonathan Milan, who is not a good climber, which allowed him to take the mountain stages more calmly and improve his form.

In the Tour, Stuyven will have a similar role to the one he had in the Giro, but this time he will support Mads Pedersen on the flat stages, with the intention of reaching Nice without being exhausted. Since the Tour will not finish in Paris, there will be no sprint on the Champs-Elysées. The final flat finish will be on July 16 in Nîmes, giving him the option to abandon the race early if necessary. "We'll see what it takes in the last week and how my physical condition is at that point," Stuyven commented.

Another reason to accept the Tour's invitation is the gravel stage in Troyes. Stuyven, reigning European gravel champion, will have a chance to shine on this ninth stage. "The team suggested this on their own," he said. "I didn't have to ask for it."

The decision to participate in the Tour was also discussed with his wife, Elke Bleyaert, whom he married this month. "Normally, I would have been at home for the next three weeks preparing for the Games, training, but at least we would be together. Elke hopes we will have time off in August, which should be possible. Otherwise, I will have a lot of racing days this year," Stuyven explained.

After the Tour, Stuyven will head to the Olympics, where he will play a crucial role similar to the one he had in Glasgow: to be a 'helper' who can stay in the competition until the final stages. "But for that you need to be in excellent shape. That's why it's important to manage my effort well in the Tour," he added.

The Olympic road race will be contested with teams of a maximum of four riders, resulting in a small peloton and a lot of confusion. "In chaotic races, I tend to perform better than in very structured ones. It will be up to Tiesj (Benoot) and me to stay in control and prevent us from getting defensive," Stuyven concluded. Jasper Stuyven faces the Tour de France with determination and clear objectives, despite his last-minute entry. His preparation and adaptation will be crucial not only for the Tour, but also for his Olympic aspirations.