"Wout once asked me for advice on Milan-Sanremo, can you believe it?!" Naesen praises Van der Poel and Van Aert

At 34, Oliver Naesen is one of the more experienced classics specialists of the moment. The man from Ostend in Belgium, who rides for Decathlon AG2R la Mondiale, has already participated in the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix 19 times. In the radio program Demarrage, he talks about what his experience has brought him, often with delightful comments.

Naesen once played mentor to Wout van Aert. "What I love about Wout is that he is so down-to-earth even though he is so incredibly good," Naesen said of his compatriot. The Belgian from Visma | Lease a Bike was on the verge of his second participation in Milan-Sanremo in 2020 after finishing sixth in 2019.

"Wout once asked me for advice for Milan-Sanremo. Can you believe it?! I mean, he is a top rider... The question was how he should approach the race, the importance of the Cipressa, where he should make his move, and where not. I gave him two or three tips, and he won the race. But certainly not thanks to me." Naesen is also pleased with Van der Poel, whom he especially appreciates for his 'Flemish' racing style. "Mathieu oozes flair and fun. That is what the race needs."

Read more below the photo!

"What I have experienced in cycling..."

Naesen has finished four times in the top ten of a monument, including second place in Milan-Sanremo. But he is not a frequent winner. The Belgian in French service has only five victories to his name. Is that a dent in his career? "Not necessarily. If I could have spoken to 16-year-old Oliver, who had just started cycling, and told him what my life is like now, what I have experienced in cycling, and what cycling has given me, he would have found it hard to believe."

Life as a professional cyclist has provided eleven seasons of wonderful stories with brilliant results. "Above all, it has been a real success. I am proud of my career, but I will not go crazy bragging about it because it wasn't that crazy." Oli is now at the beginning of his ninth year with AG2R.

Read more below the photo.

Naesen looks ahead: "I hope to become sports director"

The team is making significant progress. After an extremely successful 2024, many new names have been added. This means that Naesen's role is changing somewhat, also thanks to his age. "We have attracted many young people, very young riders who still have to learn the ropes. That's what I'm there for. I know where you have to work hard for a position and where you can let that battle pass you by. I have an important captain's role, especially for the young riders." Naesen has previously talked about the up-and-coming riders on his team.

Does that mean the former Belgian champion will no longer be allowed to ride for his chances? Not at all, he says. "If the young riders are ready to compete for the prizes, I'll help. If they're not ready, the team can count on me." Naesen's contract expires after this year. In the future, he still sees himself as a cycling ambassador. "I hope to become a sports director in a professional team. I think I can teach them a lot. But I also hope it will be a luxury job where I won't be away 250 days a year. Because I have already had to put my family in second place too often for that."

Read also

"Tadej just had his breakfast," says Alaphilippe, who shares his opinion as the Pogacar of his time: "It makes me sad"

Fourth last year in the Tour of Flanders, but now back as domestique: "Pogačar isn't afraid of Van der Poel or Van Aert"

Does Kuss lose his role as Vingegaard's lieutenant to a teammate? "To make the difference, you need riders like him"

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Get every week the latest news about CYCLING in your inbox!

Subscribe