Quinten Hermans hopes to make Tour de France debut: "There will be a fight for one last spot"

Quinten Hermans has some unfinished business with Tour de France. The 27-year old Belgian was supposed to make him debut last year with Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, but the team changed plans at last second as Hermans confirmed he'd be joining Alpecin-Deceuninck ahead of this season.

"We had ten guys in the French ski resort of La Plagne who went through the entire preparation, because someone can always drop out for the Grand Départ. That is why there will probably still be a fight for one spot. Who will participate will depend on how the team management wants to approach the Tour tactically. The answer to the question of how we can win the most stages will be decisive."

If Hermans is not selected for the Tour, he will go on holiday, he says. "But then I would like them to tell me in time. Not like I did last year. Making my Tour debut would mean a lot to me. I think I am now approaching the level I was at around this time of year last year."

Hermans has already carefully studied the first two stages of the Tour de France, which take place in the Basque Country. "It promises to be a really tough Tour, and that from the very beginning. Stages one and two are tricky. I rode up the Jaizkibel, which awaits us in the second stage, several times. It is really a tough climb, although riders like Mathieu can also survive it."