"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."