16/02/2024

Will the INEOS Grenadiers and Thymen Arensman partnership continue beyond 2024? "It depends on if the team wants to keep me"

Thymen Arensman seems like he only joined INEOS Grenadiers recently but is already discussing his contract. Asked at the Volta ao Algarve if he would renew past 2024, the Dutchman admits there is not yet an answer.

“It’s a contract year. We have to wait and see. I hope that there are some good offers from the team. We’ll see. It depends on if the team wants to keep me," he tells GCN at the Volta ao Algarve. "I think that I’m in a good place with the team but as a Dutch guy there are also some Dutch teams so we have to see if this team wants to keep me. It’s also something for my management.”

OFFICIAL: Mark Cavendish to race Tour de Hongrie; Giro d'Italia likely scraped from plans

Arensman struggled in his first months at the British team, but found his pace in time for the Giro d'Italia, where despite riding a full domestique role for Geraint Thomas, he still finished sixth in the overall classification. The rest of the year however was relatively absent, and he abandoned the Vuelta a España prematurely due to a crash.

He only signed for two seasons, and so a decision is to be made this year. “That was my own choice to sign for two years when I left DSM because you can always add more years but you can’t take years off a contract. I prefer to respect contracts. Now I can maybe add more years or decide if I want to find something else," he explains.

"Am I capable of winning the Tour? Yes, why not" - Sepp Kuss not looking to start Tour de France as pure domestique for Jonas Vingegaard

The 24-year old should follow a similar plan to last season, with the Giro d'Italia being the main goal. However plans are still open at this time of the season. “We have to see. It depends on where the team sends me. I don’t know if the team want me in the Giro but if they want me in the Tour then I’ll go to the Tour."

"It’s up to the team but my preference would be the Giro with the parcours that really suits me. I hope that I can show these good legs in the Giro, do a nice GC there, and do better than last year. Geraint is confirmed for the Giro, so it would be good for the team to have two cards to play." So far, his start to the season at the Volta ao Algarve is promising, he finished inside the Top10 on the Alto da Fóia.