Once fourth in Paris-Roubaix, now forced into retirement: "I begged them not to select me anymore"

The year after his breakthrough in the Hell of the North, Devriendt signed with Q36.5 Pro Cycling. However, things started going wrong at the beginning of the year. "It happened during the Tour of Valencia," he recalled in an interview with Sporza. "It was 17 degrees, and I needed a neck warmer because I felt cold. Strange, because as a classics rider, I was always good with cold weather. After the Tour of Valencia, I was extremely tired and never regained my level."

Following the fatigue, intestinal issues began to affect him as well. "I came home from the Amstel Gold Race and immediately went to bed to start my rest period. That’s when the stomach problems started. For eight months straight, I had to go to the bathroom day and night, 10 to 12 times a day." After extensive testing, Crohn’s disease was diagnosed in January of this year. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the relief he’d hoped for — the problems persisted. "After the GP Monseré (March 3, ed.), I spent 12 days bedridden. I was completely incapacitated."

Despite all the challenges, Devriendt was still selected to race in the spring season, but it was a disaster. "During the Tour of Flanders, I rode at the back all day with the last three riders. Eventually, I dropped out during a passage in Oudenaarde. Afterward, in the team bus, I begged the staff not to select me for Paris-Roubaix. I was completely exhausted and empty — my whole body was out of balance. I can hardly describe the feeling — it was like my soul was leaving my body."

The decision to stop cycling doesn’t come as a surprise but rather as a relief. "Even if my team had offered me a new contract, I would have refused. I just couldn’t do it anymore. During training, I couldn’t even keep up with my teammates Gerben Thijssen and Xandro Meurisse. Many riders say it’s hard to stop racing, but for me, it really feels like a relief."