Laurance took off like a rocket in 2024: "Van der Poel and Philipsen's victories affect everyone"

Last year, Axel Laurance frequently showed his potential. Sometimes for the development team of Alpecin-Deceuninck, sometimes already for the main team. 2024 marks his first full season at the WorldTour level. Right in the first quarter, he has already clinched multiple victories, so it can be said he had a cannon start. We caught up with the affable Frenchman before the Flèche Brabançonne race.

We spoke with the under-23 world champion just before the Flèche Brabançonne. In this Flemish race, he was notably aggressive, securing a thirtieth-place finish. "The Flèche Brabançonne acts as a transitional race, bridging the gap between the cobblestone classics and the true Ardennes races," he shared about the event, which was won by Benoit Cosnefroy.

Alpecin-Deceuninck is in a winning wood, victories from Van der Poel and Philipsen impact the entire team.

The 22-year-old young man from Brittany is clearly in high spirits, as he's beaming. "Indeed, I feel very good." On his second race day of the year, he sprinted to victory in the opening stage of the Étoile de Bessèges, and in March, he also won a stage in the Tour of Catalonia. "I'm satisfied with what I've shown this year, but there are still many great things to come," said the top talent. "That victory in France was very good for morale and boosted my confidence. It definitely confirmed that I had it in me at that level. The same was true after my stage win in Catalonia. When other guys from our team also win in other races, it's absolutely fantastic. Hopefully, we can continue this trend in the upcoming races."

Ambition is in the air for the upbeat Frenchman, buoyed by his team's successes. But what else can you expect when your employer is in a winning mood thanks to Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen. Laurance was part of both the Milan-San Remo (won by Philipsen) and the Tour of Flanders (won by Van der Poel). "The team is performing very well. Mathieu and Jasper show week after week that they are very strong," confirms the man from the west of France. "For me, it's obviously very nice to ride in such a high-performing team. It influences everyone within the squad. In those Monuments, I gained a lot of experience, which will definitely help me in the coming years. It provides a good foundation for the future. They were also cool races, especially since we were able to win both as a team."

Enjoyed the Tour of Flanders, took off like a rocket in first full season at WorldTour level

So Laurance made an appearance at the Tour of Flanders, although that was not actually the initial plan. "Participating in the Tour of Flanders was quite a surprise. I was actually only scheduled to race in the Volta NXT Classic (which took place the day before, ed.) initially. However, some things changed, so I ended up participating. It was a crazy experience. There were a lot of fans along the sides. It was beautiful to see, truly something special. I rode there, of course, in service of Mathieu. I think I did quite well. That too, helping teammates, is good for gaining experience, to eventually become a complete rider. The classics are definitely something special. Long, tough races with a lot of people on the sidelines. Positioning is often very important."

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Laurance crowned himself as the under-23 world champion in 2023

The young rider is clearly on a path to becoming a well-rounded professional. And he's doing it alongside some of the best in the world—a dream come true for him. "2024 has been an amazing year so far. You don't expect your first season at the WorldTour level to go this well right off the bat. I'm proud of what I've achieved so far. But the year isn't over yet, so I'll need to keep fighting and showing what I'm capable of. If I can keep up this momentum, it would be incredible. Although it's a bit early to call 2024 a complete success, these first wins are certainly something I'll remember."

Van der Poel helping in the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, freer role in the Flèche Wallonne and Eschborn-Frankfurt

Looking ahead, Laurance is excited for the upcoming races, including the Amstel Gold Race, the Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and Eschborn-Frankfurt. "We're past the cobblestone season now. It's time to focus on some exciting hilly classics. These will be different, but just as enjoyable. You need more raw strength on cobblestones than on asphalt. The upcoming races will surely offer a different dynamic. It's a kind of transformation," he anticipates the famed trio of hill classics.

In two of these hill classics, he will again ride alongside Van der Poel. "We'll have to see how the upcoming races play out, as there are many variables. In the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, I hope to help Mathieu to victory," he shares when asked. "That's our main goal. In other races, like the Flèche Wallonne or Eschborn-Frankfurt, I'll also have my own opportunities. Hopefully, I can turn them into something special."