Interview | Stuyven rides in service of Pedersen but also pursues his own luck: "Definitely chasing stage wins"
Cycling
Jasper Stuyven raced to an impressive third place at the Belgian Championship, won by Remco Evenepoel. He also performed well in the Baloise Belgium Tour, which was considered his final stage race before the Tour de France. Stuyven finished fifth overall in his home race. During the five-day race through Belgium, IDLProCycling.com spoke with the 31-year-old rocket!
Stuyven himself admits that his spring season didn't unfold as he had hoped. The friendly rider from Leuven managed to grab two top-ten finishes in the classics, finishing tenth in both Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Milan-Sanremo, the race he won in 2021. "I was able to position myself occasionally, but it wasn't a successful spring," said Stuyven, referring to his much better classifications in the 2022 classics. "This year, I did feel that I was good enough, but the results didn't always materialize."
"Statistically, it didn't pay off, but in terms of how I feel, it certainly did," Stuyven said on skipping Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico
"There were times I got a flat tire at a bad moment, and then I also crashed at the worst possible moment," the unlucky rider continued his account. "Quite a few things happened that were beyond my control. You simply have to accept that. It's a little bit easier to accept when you know you were in good form. I knew I had the legs. On the other hand, it's also a bit disappointing because there were great opportunities to capitalize on my good shape."
Stuyven will represent Lidl-Trek at the start of the Tour de France. This means that the star rider will be heading to the biggest cycling event in the world for the sixth consecutive time, as he has been to every edition since 2018 - no exceptions. Stuyven does mention that he approached his preparation for 'la Grande Boucle' differently this year than in previous years. "I didn't ride Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico in March. Instead, I went on a high-altitude training camp. I am very satisfied with that choice. Statistically, it didn't pay off, but in terms of how I feel, it certainly did."
Text continues below photo.
In the sprint stages, Stuyven tries to lead Pedersen to stage wins
"In previous years, I would spend a month in Tenerife before the Tour de France, but this time I just went to our high-altitude hotel in Dénia (Spain, ed.) for two weeks. Plus, I stayed home a little longer than usual," explained the articulate Flemish rider. "I also didn't ride the Critérium du Dauphiné or Tour de Suisse, but instead, I started in the Tour of Norway and the Baloise Belgium Tour," he aptly described his slightly different preparation for the Tour de France.
Stuyven starts the Tour with great ambition and will likely have the freedom to occasionally chase his own luck. "I will definitely be aiming for stage wins. But for riders like me, it has been proven in the past that it's not that simple, although I will definitely chase a stage win. In the truly flat stages, I will contribute to helping Mads (Pedersen, ed.) as best as possible."
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Latest Comments
- I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024