Arensman faced crucial issue in Giro: "I broke all power records, but if you're well over 70 kilos..."

Thymen Arensman and a sixth-place finish in a grand tour seem to be an excellent match. Following his performance in the 2022 Vuelta a España, the 24-year-old Dutchman from INEOS Grenadiers secured another sixth-place finish in the overall standings at the 2023 Giro d'Italia. While this was previously a promising result, Arensman now finds it less satisfying. IDLProCycling.com had an in-depth conversation with him and his team leader Zak Dempster after the final stage in Rome.

Arensman experienced a familiar trajectory in this grand tour. He got off to a rough start, losing significant time during the opening weekend. However, in the second and third weeks, he climbed up the standings and proved to be one of the strongest among the classification riders. "With him, we have to keep building. He's finished sixth three times now, so the next step is top five and the podium. That's what we're focused on, the process of achieving that," Dempster said.

The recipe for a better grand tour performance seems clear: start stronger. "That's complicated; there's no single solution. We'll need to have a conversation about it and see how we can improve. His starts are holding him back from better performances, so we need to focus on what we can do better with all the guys. With Thymen, that's clear," continued the 36-year-old Australian. Despite everything, he was satisfied with third place for Geraint Thomas and sixth for Arensman. "Third was the best...

"Third place is an accurate reflection of everyone's performance," he said. Arensman, seemingly the only one on the team who believed INEOS was still in contention for the pink jersey until the third week, brought a smile to Dempster's face. "You always hold on until the last stage, even though it was clear that with the margin he had, Pogacar couldn't be caught. Beating Pogacar was extremely difficult, so we rode more conservatively and prioritized securing the podium. It would have been foolish to risk losing a podium finish. You have to wait for the opportunities that come your way, and we were ready for that. We had the utmost ambition, and I'm actually glad Thymen made those statements. We shouldn't shy away from our highest ambitions."

Read the interview with Arensman below the photo!

Thymen Arensman after the first stage in the Giro

Interview with Thymen Arensman: How was his Giro d'Italia?

So, it seems Arensman is in good spirits at INEOS. But what did he think of it himself? As always, he was honest, even when, over a beer, he took the time to talk to this website about his Giro. The conversation that ensued was honest, candid, and at the same time, ambitious.

The podium with Geraint, that was the goal in the last week, I think, so may I congratulate you?

"Yes, that's heartwarming. That was definitely one of the goals for the Giro. We obviously wanted to win, but that was going to be very difficult with Tadej. Nonetheless, the podium is also very satisfying.

I appreciated your Dutch and ambitious attitude, where even in the third week, you were still talking about the pink jersey for the team. Were you perhaps a bit alone in that within the team in the third week?

"If you're very realistic, Tadej isn't going to falter, and you're not going to make up six minutes, or whatever the difference was at the end of the second week. However, you also saw what happened to G in the nineteenth stage; he fell. That could have happened to Pogacar as well, and then if you're second and not third... You always have to keep pushing as hard as possible from A to B and give your best, because if something had happened, you would have won the Giro. You don't wish that on anyone, but it's as simple as that."

Are you relieved it's over, or could a grand tour last four weeks?

"Well, I believe three weeks is sufficient, but physically, I still feel fine. However, constantly pushing yourself to the limit every day, battling with the same competitors for position, after three weeks, it becomes tiresome."

Have you already identified the root causes of the struggles during the opening weekend of this Giro? Or is it still too early for that?

"Yes, actually, we started addressing it right after that weekend, together with my coach, Dajo Sanders. There are likely several factors contributing to it. We're going to delve into that further. Additionally, there are lessons learned from this Giro that I can use to improve. At 24, I have plenty of time ahead of me. If you consider Geraint, who is 14 years older, I still have many years ahead to aim for that podium, haha! I feel I've grown stronger, and that's what matters most."

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Just a straightforward Dutch question: Can you take the next step at INEOS Grenadiers?

"I believe so, absolutely. The team has confidence in me, and as you asked Zak, they see me as a podium contender and a leader. So, as far as I'm concerned, I'm in the right place."

Looking back on this Giro now, how do you feel? Has that opening weekend left a mark on you?

"Well, finishing sixth three times... You always hope for a bit better, but it certainly fuels my motivation for the next major tour where I'll aim for a classification. The memory of that opening weekend still lingers, as does the fact that I had to withdraw during the twentieth stage. The reason was quite simple: I gained four or five kilos during the Giro..."

Oh, how did that happen?

"Probably fluid retention. I was breaking all my power records on Saturday, but when you weigh well over 70 kilos, it's hard to maintain. No matter how much power you generate on the pedals."

One would think you'd lose weight during a grand tour, right?

"Yeah, well, my skinfold measurements indicated low heart rate for me, so that accounts for about four or five liters of fluid. It's something useful to figure out for next time, exactly what's causing that."

Drink less?

"Well, typically, it's more about drinking more for me. It seems like I'm retaining a lot of fluids, which might also be due to my struggle with the heat. I perform better in colder conditions, but during the first two weeks of the Giro, it was warmer than expected. This is exactly what I meant earlier: valuable lessons for the future. If I can manage those initial days better and control my weight, considering how close I am now to the podium, then I'm absolutely confident about securing a podium finish."

What's your next goal? I assume the Tour de France isn't on the agenda?

"I would prefer that, just for the experience. But it's challenging within this team, so we'll see. I'm not entirely sure at the moment."

Maybe you could ask Geraint to switch with you; he seemed ready for a beer!

"Well, I do fancy the Tour, and I'm a similar type of rider as G. He can give me a call!"