Early on stage 6 of the Vuelta a España sharp-eyed followers could have seen {that a} acquainted determine was on the transfer for the breakaways, as specialist Thomas de Gendt tried his greatest to push clear in what can be his final ever Grand Tour.
The 37-year-old didn’t handle this time round. However as a rider whose capacity to make breakaway succeeds now kinds a part of professional biking’s city legends, expectations stay excessive that the Lotto Dstny racer will sooner or later be off the entrance and battling for a minimum of one final stage win.
Though younger teammate Lennert van Eetvelt is combating for the general, sports activities director Mario Aerts instructed Cyclingnews this might not have an effect on the Belgian veteran’s alternatives to shine on his personal account.
“For the second we’re nonetheless protecting all our choices open,” Aerts mentioned. “Thomas is Thomas, and when wanted he’ll do his job for Lenny. And if there’s a probability on one of many days for Thomas, then why not?”
De Gendt is driving his twenty fifth Grand Tour and are available what could, 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 can be one of many hardest of the complete Vuelta and an enormous GC stage, his possibilities of going for a win can be minimal. Nevertheless, if there are different alternatives to go for his eleventh Grand Tour stage win and second to this point within the Vuelta a España, he’ll make sure to attempt to take it.
“I am in fine condition, higher than the remainder of the 12 months, however I am going to must see whether or not I am adequate,” De Gendt instructed Cyclingnews earlier this week.
“Even with my greatest kind, 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 stage was rising within the final weeks. I simply hope it is adequate to be in a break however I do know it will likely be tough.”
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The route this 12 months just isn’t beneficial to the sprinters, with simply 4 or 5 alternatives at greatest and there are fewer transition phases than traditional, too. However no matter how the organisers have tailored the route consequently, De Gendt says the important thing issue is, as ever, getting in the proper break with the proper 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 Staff Emirates) makes his personal mission notably simpler.
“There are some days which can be actually good for breaks this 12 months, and even when it is a mountain or summit end on the finish it is nonetheless bought potentialities,” De Gendt mentioned.
“You simply must have the proper riders with you that you would be able to 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 essential there is no 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 phases has already had one impact, De Gendt says, which is to suffocate the breakaways on the few flat days to this point within the Vuelta. So the primary time he made a transfer was on stage 6, the place – apart from the GC stage to Villuercas – the fastmen had no probability of victory.
“I already knew there aren’t so many dash days and solely three or 4 actual sprinters this 12 months within the race,” De Gendt mentioned.
“In order that makes it actually tough to win on days like phases 2 or 3, as a result of you understand that the sprinters’ groups can be sure to regulate 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 for those who 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 probability.”
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 instructed Cyclingnews, any sense of nostalgia sparked by the upcoming finish to his 16-year profession has but to hit residence.
“The Vuelta just isn’t my closing race, I’ll nonetheless do the Italian Classics after that. So for for the second a minimum of, it is similar to one of many many Grand Excursions you do. You simply attempt to do one of the best you possibly can, eat one of the best you possibly can, and save as a lot vitality wherever you possibly can.
“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, all through to the top.”
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