"Try to be a bit happier, that will also make you ride faster": Thymen Arensman finds his way back by rediscovering joy in cycling

After a disappointing and very demanding 2024 season, Thymen Arensman came back stronger in 2025. The Dutch rider had his best season yet, winning two stages at the Tour de France and putting on very solid performances all year round.

Arensman's talent was evident since his junior days. After finishing second behind Tadej Pogacar at the 2018 Tour de l’Avenir, expectations in the Netherlands quickly grew that he could become a future Grand Tour contender. There was big pressure placed on his shoulders, which began to affect him.

“It’s something that had built up over the past few years,” Arensman explained in an interview to Wieler Flits. “In my first years as a professional in 2020 and 2021, everything was super new and I didn’t feel or receive any pressure from the team at all. But in 2021 I showed a lot of potential and was increasingly put forward as a leader. Then you have to start riding for general classifications.”

He admited that pressure came mostly from within. “I tried to push myself, because you think that makes you better and that it’s good for you. For me it’s also a personality thing. I’ve always had it in me to do just a bit more than what was on my training schedule, but in 2024 it became really extreme. At some point you have to hit your head to be able to come back.”

A crucial turning point came through conversations with Tom Dumoulin, whom Arensman spoke to earlier this year about the mental side of the sport. Dumoulin has always been incredibly open about his mental health struggles.

“I got a lot out of that meeting with Tom,” Arensman said. “You obviously heard everything in the podcast, but in our conversations without microphones Tom shared a lot as well. And he wants to keep sharing things, I can always call him. I did that during the Volta ao Algarve when things started going a bit worse again.”

Both riders have gone through very similar situations, which help them to better understand each other. “Tom and I have basically been through the same things. Tom also says: everyone is constantly trying to prove themselves and bring the next marginal gain to the market, but you can completely lose yourself in it. Try to be a bit happier, that will also make you ride faster.”

That philosophy has shaped Arensman’s 2025 approach, including changes in training intensity. “In January it was honestly really relaxed at the altitude camp in Tenerife. I think I got dropped almost every day on the final climb, and it really didn’t bother me if someone rode away faster.”

“Normally that would always stress me out, especially if I saw my power numbers were lower than they should be. Now I trust that it will come in races, that I’ll be able to produce those extra 50 or 100 watts when it really matters.”

Arensman has also simplified his approach to nutrition, in his case doing the opposite of what professional riders usually do nowadays. “Since the start of 2025 I no longer work with a nutritionist. Maybe with a nutritionist you follow the ideal plan, but for me it didn’t work. I just eat what I want and listen to my body. I’ve learned enough about nutrition over the past years to have a basic understanding. It’s really not rocket science.”

“You know how many carbohydrates per hour you need, and it’s also obvious that you should eat less on a rest day than on a day when you train for six hours. It’s just logical thinking and listening to how I feel.”

Some small changes have actually brought him peace of mind. “If I feel like having a piece of chocolate: fine. These days I’ll choose dark chocolate instead of milk. In the past I would have skipped it altogether. But consciously not eating it ended up costing me almost more energy than if I had just put that piece of chocolate in my mouth.”