"Peter Sagan, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, I’ve always run into someone stronger" - Oliver Naesen talks classics and the rise of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team

Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team enjoyed a brilliant 2024 season, cementing their position as one of the leading squads in the cycling world. Reflecting on the year gone by and looking ahead to the challenges of 2025, Oliver Naesen, a key rider for the team, shared his thoughts.

Naesen, a consistently strong performer in the classics, spoke candidly about his career so far.

"I’ve often been in a position to finish with the best, but winning? That’s another story," he admitted. "I’ve faced Tom Boonen, Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet, Philippe Gilbert, and now Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. They’re all fast finishers. I’ve been on plenty of podiums but never managed to snag the win. I’ve always run into someone stronger."

Despite this, Naesen maintains a pragmatic perspective. "Our ambition is to win a classic, but when Mathieu races six of those and wins five, there’s not much left to compete for. Not to mention that everyone else is lining up to claim that sixth win. Of course, you hope for that victory, but the race is about more than just the win. If we can finish the spring with some strong podium results, we can call it a successful season. We have to be honest about that."

Naesen highlighted the importance of clear strategies in racing, something the team has worked hard to improve.

"We need to create a crystal-clear plan for how we want to race," he explained. "In recent years, we often didn’t have clear role assignments, but now the goal is to approach each race with a strategy that maximizes our chances of success. And that plan needs to be adapted to each rider's specific strengths."

The Belgian also praised the strides the team has made in recent years, particularly with their partnership with Van Rysel.

"We've taken so many steps. Van Rysel involves us in everything, from development to R&D and beyond. They are very demanding and ask a lot from riders like me, but it results in lots of truly top-quality equipment. This year, I’m especially curious about the new clothing we’re going to get. It’s supposed to be incredibly fast. I hope it will be as revolutionary as the bike we got last year."

He also noted the team’s focus on providing premium support to riders, both on and off the bike. "It’s also the simple things. I heard about another team flying to Spain at 5:30 in the morning via Charleroi, but we take a private plane with the entire team. That makes a difference, both for team cohesion and to create a premium feeling. I don't know if it's necessary, but it all helps. They even ask, for example, if I prefer an aisle or window seat, so it really goes that far. Things like that wouldn’t have crossed my mind 12 or 24 months ago. They’re small examples, but still."

As Naesen prepares for the 2025 season, he recognises the role he plays as one of the team's senior riders. At 34 years old, he is one of the oldest members of the squad, but he embraces the dynamic within the team.

"Physically, yes, but at the dinner table too," he said when asked if he feels his age. "When you’re working with riders who are 18 or 21, and the team’s average age is 26, you realize that at 34 you’re not one of the youngest anymore. But over the years, the dynamic stays the same, although of course you see a trend that riders are starting younger and younger."