23/12/2023

Tim Wellens: "Being part of the team that won the Tour would be a great chapter in my story"

Tim Wellens has has a mixed 2024 season, finding his own into a domestique role, but also sustaining bad injuries. He won the Renewi Tour however later in the year, and he returns to the Tour de France this upcoming summer to help the team fight for the yellow jersey.

“I will start the season later, so that I can maintain my shape for longer. My left collarbone it is still sensitive. On a bicycle it doesn't bother me, but if someone grabs my shoulder, I have to ask them to remove their hand," Wellens told Sporza. "My collarbone was reduced to many small pieces, it took me a long time."

Tadej Pogacar recalls how "a mixed drink of cucumber juice, salt and vinegar" helped him stave off cramp to win Il Lombardia

The Belgian crashed at the Tour of Flanders and was forced to miss out on the race this year. The team is heading with four leaders into the upcoming edition and the Belgian alongside Nils Politt will be a domestique for the flat and hilly stages. “When I look at the selection of the team for the Grande Boucle, it is obviously a great honor to see myself among those names. But my goal is a little higher than simply being selected: I want to do my job as best as I can for the team as well as possible."

"My task will not be to escort Tadej up to 500 meters from the climb, but I will escort him earlier, in the simpler parts of the race. If there is anyone who can do it, it's Tadej. He has been the best rider in the world for three years and knows how to choose his goals very well. Being part of the team that won the Tour would be a great chapter in my story."

Juan Ayuso on upcoming Tour de France: "Tadej is the leader, but I'm not going to give up any opportunity that the race proposes"

The Belgian has also revealed his schedule which will include the cobbled classics, and also the Criterium du Dauphiné before the Tour de France. Wellens will start his season at the Vuelta a Murcia and stay in Spain for the Vuelta a Andalucia early onwards, and will also have Strade Bianche and Milano-Sanremo in his schedule.

Tim Wellens' provisional schedule for 2024 season:

Vuelta a Murcia

Vuelta a Andalucia

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne

Strade Bianche

Milano-Sanremo

E3 Saxo Bank

Dwars Door Vlaanderen

Brabantse Pijl

Paris-Roubaix

Criterium Du Dauphiné