Early on stage 6 of the Vuelta a España sharp-eyed followers could have observed {that a} acquainted determine was on the transfer for the breakaways, as specialist Thomas de Gendt tried his greatest to push clear in what will likely be his final ever Grand Tour.
The 37-year-old didn’t handle this time round. However as a rider whose skill to make breakaway succeeds now types a part of professional biking’s city legends, expectations stay excessive that the Lotto Dstny racer will in some unspecified time in the future be off the entrance and battling for at the very least one final stage win.
Though younger teammate Lennert van Eetvelt is combating for the general, sports activities director Mario Aerts advised Cyclingnews this could not have an effect on the Belgian veteran’s alternatives to shine on his personal account.
“For the second we’re nonetheless preserving all our choices open,” Aerts mentioned. “Thomas is Thomas, and when wanted he’ll do his job for Lenny. And if there’s a likelihood on one of many days for Thomas, then why not?”
De Gendt is driving his twenty fifth Grand Tour and are available what might, they are going to be celebrating his five hundredth day of racing in biking’s high three-week races on stage 20. The 37-year-old says, on condition that day will likely be one of many hardest of the whole Vuelta and a giant GC stage, his possibilities of going for a win will likely be minimal. Nonetheless, if there are different alternatives to go for his eleventh Grand Tour stage win and second so far within the Vuelta a España, he’ll remember to attempt to take it.
“I am in good condition, higher than the remainder of the yr, however I will should see whether or not I am ok,” De Gendt advised Cyclingnews earlier this week.
“Even with my greatest type, I feel I might have a tough time to win a stage as a result of in biking the extent has risen a bit greater than my degree was rising within the final weeks. I simply hope it is ok to be in a break however I do know it is going to be tough.”
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The route this yr shouldn’t be beneficial to the sprinters, with simply 4 or 5 alternatives at greatest and there are fewer transition levels than regular, too. However no matter how the organisers have tailored the route in consequence, De Gendt says the important thing issue is, as ever, getting in the appropriate break with the appropriate riders. As for the 2024 Vuelta a España, the absence of three main figures, Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), Jonas Vingegaard (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Tadej Pogačar (UAE Workforce Emirates) makes his personal mission notably simpler.
“There are some days which can be actually good for breaks this yr, and even when it is a mountain or summit end on the finish it is nonetheless bought potentialities,” De Gendt mentioned.
“You simply should have the appropriate riders with you that you may beat on a climb and the liberty to manoeuvre as you need. To win, I simply have to get some freedom.”
“That is why it is vital there is not any Remco, Vingo’ or Pog’ within the race as a result of in the event that they had been right here, these groups at all times shut the hole to get a stage win themselves. However this Vuelta is, I feel, extra like a conventional Grand Tour race.”
The dearth of sprinting levels has already had one impact, De Gendt says, which is to suffocate the breakaways on the few flat days so far within the Vuelta. So the primary time he made a transfer was on stage 6, the place – aside from the GC stage to Villuercas – the fastmen had no likelihood of victory.
“I already knew there are usually not so many dash days and solely three or 4 actual sprinters this yr within the race,” De Gendt mentioned.
“In order that makes it actually tough to win on days like levels 2 or 3, as a result of you already know that the sprinters’ groups will likely be sure to manage issues. And so at kilometre zero, they had been all lined up on the entrance, ensuring there weren’t too many riders up there within the breaks.”
“It could have been silly to assault on these days, possibly if you happen to wished the King of the Mountains jersey, however not for the stage. Even when there have been 5 – 6 riders, they’d nonetheless have had no likelihood.”
De Gendt could also be knocking down the curtain on the breakaways and all the opposite options of his skilled life very quickly, however as he advised Cyclingnews, any sense of nostalgia sparked by the upcoming finish to his 16-year profession has but to hit residence.
“The Vuelta shouldn’t be my ultimate race, I’ll nonetheless do the Italian Classics after that. So for for the second at the very least, it is identical to one of many many Grand Excursions you do. You simply attempt to do the very best you’ll be able to, eat the very best you’ll be able to, and save as a lot power wherever you’ll be able to.
“I haven’t got any emotions about it but, though possibly on the final day of the Vuelta as that”ll in all probability be my final time trial, that’ll change. However for now, I am simply concentrating on the racing and staying focussed, throughout to the top.”
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