Thibau Nys: Breaking through on the World Tour

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If my critics, saw me walking over water,

they would say it was

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because I couldn't swim.

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Our guest today

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grew up with a superstar dad, but

he has found a way on his own to carve out

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not only a successful career on the road,

but also in cyclocross.

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Thibau

Nys joins us today on the odd tandem.

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Jensie What a talk that was indeed.

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What a talk dad was because Thibau

Nys is only 21 years old,

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but his wisdom is far beyond his age.

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The way he talks, the way he looks at life

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and at his job

and at challenges in his life and his job.

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Absolutely fantastic.

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And it's it's a proper, like picture book

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example of how athletes should think.

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Yes, I agree.

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And you know, we both have daughters,

you know, around his age,

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like the way that he speaks

just really wanted me to say, hey,

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do you have a girlfriend?

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I'd really like to introduce you

to my daughter because, like,

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you just don't hear 21 year

old kids talk like that.

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But it's all up to you.

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Sit back, relax and listen

to our great conversation with Thibau Nys.

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Alright, everyone, here we go again

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with another episode of the odd tandem

welcoming Thibau knees to the show.

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How are you doing, Thibau?

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It's good to see you guys.

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Thanks for having me. I'm doing great.

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Well, I got to ask, man.

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Second year as a pro,

almost double digit wins.

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Yeah.

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What did you learn

or figure out in the second year

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as a pro that allowed

you have so many big wins this year?

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I think it's kind of a combination

of everything.

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You know, all the the puzzle

pieces are slowly fitting into each other.

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The, the training,

like the level of training

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and the intensity

and the hours are rising.

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I get to know my body a lot more.

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So all of these small, like.

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Yeah, pieces, they, they, they slowly

fit into the into the, to the big part.

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And, I think this.

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Yeah, worked out in a way

that I could only dream of before of this

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before the season and, yeah, it's

it's been amazing to to look back at it.

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It's, it's crazy.

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Before we actually go deeper

into your training, your preparation

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for this season and how it all happened,

we have four quickfire questions.

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Wait, just give us a short answer,

all right?

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The first thing that comes to your mind

is the answer.

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Okay, let's start with number one.

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Hilltop sprint or breakaway?

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The hilltop sprint, for sure.

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Solo training or group ride.

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Solo training.

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Your favorite tattoo?

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Oh, it's, I can show it's, piece of,

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Sorry. Oh, awesome.

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Yeah, it's super nice.

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And,

what is the best thing about cyclocross?

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For sure?

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Yep. That's a good answer to

it is the fans.

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Yeah, well, you know, we had your

your dad on a recent podcast

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and he, he explained us a little bit

about how good it is.

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And, I was riding with two buddies today

that we're also ex pros.

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And I said, hey, you know,

we got to try to get over there

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and do you know, and experience

a cyclocross race in Belgium

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with Sven's help

because it sounds sounds amazing,

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but, so let's get back

to those little puzzle pieces.

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I mean, you're just you're

you're about to turn 22.

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So this year you were 21. Yeah.

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You know,

you were world under 23, champion.

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Tell us about your your first win

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as a pro for the little track team

and what that meant to you.

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It was, I was building up that win

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a little bit, you know, I was getting

closer and closer and closer.

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Starting

off with, a second place in Romania.

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Then also a second place in a stage

in, in tour of Hungary.

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And I was feeling like,

damn, I'm getting really close, but like,

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the final piece was missing, and,

and then the

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I think it was stage,

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three in, stage 2 or 3 in Tour of Norway,

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where I got,

like the best lead out ever from my team.

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With Jasper Steuven as my last guy.

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And and when when a champion

like like him.

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You know, I was growing up

seeing him in the team and things like

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this is from my area, and,

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of course, winner of San Remo and and yet,

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to get him as my final guy

lounging on the, on the steep little kick.

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Yeah. That you have to finish it off.

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You know, I was

I was so relieved and I was so.

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Yeah, so happy.

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And I think the next week I won again.

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So which one of them

did you enjoy the most?

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On the road.

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It's a bit, it's a bit difficult.

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I think the stage in Tour

de Suisse was really emotional.

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I crashed in Gippinger a,

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few days before, in, in.

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Yeah, in the last 150m in a scenario

where I should always win the race.

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But it was. Yeah, my own fault.

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And then, that evening,

we were riding to the hotel to Tour de

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Suisse and, completely like,

full of, scratches and wounds and,

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and everything, you know, and, me and,

and at the.

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DS, I think it was,

I think it was Rusty and we were going

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to, to do the recon of the stage,

to see the final climb,

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of stage three of the race with

and I was looking at, I say, okay, I'm

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going to take revenge here.

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And then, I still remember

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during the whole stage

I was feeling, super bad.

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The legs were not there.

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I was suffering some, some subtle pain.

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I was not relaxed on the bike.

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The body was was holding quite some liquid

from the, from the crash, and

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I didn't really believe in it,

but I always kept.

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Kept going, kept going.

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And the more you get into that final,

the more confidence I got. And.

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And one moment

I flipped the switch and then to to win.

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At that moment, it was like a really

a roller coaster of emotions.

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But between that win

that you just described in Tour

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de Suisse this year and Tour of Poland,

there was a big gap.

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I mean, Tour of Suisse is what in July.

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Yeah.

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And Tour of Poland is in August,

I believe, from memory.

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What what did you do in between that?

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I know you did your Belgian nationals,

but what what set you up for

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those dominating three wins

in the Tour of Poland in the World tour?

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Again, I think this is quite

an interesting story because, of course

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I did the nationals after Suisse, which

was, also really, really great result.

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I think I surprised myself in that race.

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And then I

it was the plan to have like five,

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six days off, have a small break, rest,

because it was already quite a long,

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long period.

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I was racing,

so I took like five, six days off.

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And then I started training again.

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And from the first day

I was starting training again, I was,

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developing

like a kind of a knee injury I had,

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I don't really know the words, but, yeah,

some over overuse on the on my kneecap.

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And then I went to Girona

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to train, but, like, seven days

without touching the bike.

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Just because of this, this knee problem

and this combining

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with the week of rest

I had put me quite back some time.

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And, normally it was a plan to race

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in, to the wall

only just before, Poland.

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And then, okay, the knee got better

and I start training again,

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but then I was,

I was feeling like I was just

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physically not ready to race

in, in Wallonia.

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And, the team called me and,

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it was like, every day with, with a team

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doctor, with my doctor,

with, rds, with my coach, with my dad.

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Always like, going around to see

what are we going to do, what's the plan?

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And then, I made a decision to not race

in, Tour de Wallonia.

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It was also one of my big goals

for the season, because I think I could,

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could win maybe 2 or 3 stages

and even maybe go for the GC.

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It's close to home.

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I always, like to ride over there.

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Also, the team felt like them.

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We are missing, a really nice shot

to have, to have some wins.

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But I said, yeah,

if if I'm going to ride now in while only,

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maybe I forgot myself even more,

I will not have any wins.

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And I will also not be ready

for Tour of Poland, because I

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dig myself deeper

into the into the into the problems.

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And then the, they said, okay,

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are we going to trust you

and just do what you need to do?

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And then I trained like a crazy guy,

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and, I came back in the shape

I wanted, and I think, it's it's

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really an example of how you need to think

and how your approach needs to be.

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And, as soon as I did.

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Yeah.

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My first, race after this, this period,

after this knee injury

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and after two weeks of training,

I was there. I want.

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So could you feel when you started to off

Poland,

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could you feel in your body, your body

responding, hey, I am winning material.

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I don't need this race to prepare

for other races.

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I can win here.

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Did you feed it from day one? Yes.

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I'm,

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we train so hard in this period.

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Before that, also because we,

we didn't have so much time.

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So, you know, after three really hard

two weeks,

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you're feeling starts to go a bit down,

you know, because the body started.

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Your heart rate

is not not going up anymore.

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The legs feel a feel not fresh.

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You're not reaching that

that really high power,

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you can normally have in,

like having the legs.

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So then we made a decision to do,

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like, three rest days,

one week before of Poland.

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And then I did

one really hard training again.

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And then on this day,

I felt I was ready to win.

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And, I'm.

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I'm this type of guy

who really needs this,

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how do you say, like,

to build up the confidence

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in the training

and to feel like, okay, I'm ready for it.

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And I'm, like the feeling,

I'm doing the trainings,

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that will get me the wins.

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I always have.

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The thing in my mind,

I don't to win during the races.

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I win during my trainings.

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And the racing is the easy part.

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That's just having fun and doing the hard

work is all is all past, you know?

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And and during that week before, Poland

in that one training, I felt like,

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okay, this is this is it I have what

what I, what I need to win because I,

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I felt this also in the wins I had before.

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How things have changed Jensie?

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A 21 year old putting his hand up

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with this sort of concern

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and this sort of confidence, said,

hey, if I go to this race,

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I'm not going to be ready,

but I'm going to be ready.

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And you, you were, because you won

the first stage of Tour of Poland.

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So I just kind of want to flag that up.

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You know, this year

Lidl-Trek had 43 wins.

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You know, last year they had 27.

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So a big, big improvement.

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So I just want to stop right here

and compliment not only you

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as a 21 year old

to kind of put your hand in the fire

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and you know, it could have gotten bit off

because, I mean, Jens and I

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if we said something like that

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at that age or as a second year pro,

it wouldn't have happened.

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So compliments not only to you

but to Lidl-Trek your management

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because that's the way that young riders

should be treated.

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And obviously they're coddling the young

riders a lot more than they ever did.

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But in this sort of positive way,

that's what I love to hear.

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And I also I really, really appreciate

that they gave me this around for

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for trainings for, for like trusting me

to, to, to just do my thing.

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I'm totally aware that even to this day,

not only in the past, but

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also to this day, there are a lot of teams

that have the mindset that, okay,

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we pay you. You need to be there to race.

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And, I think this is in most ways

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not not positive for both sides, you know,

because I will not be ready to race

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and I will also not perform it, perform

at my highest level.

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So we don't

we both don't get anything from it.

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And, I think I slowly build up

this confidence in the team, you know,

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because, also after the cyclocross season

this year or like beginning this year,

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I took a break of,

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two and a half weeks of rest,

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and then I had a really long,

buildup, period.

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Because I only started in Romandie and,

some people were saying like, oh, hey.

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So, I don't even need to race.

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Is is taking a long time,

where I think some teams

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really will have the,

the feeling like, okay, come on.

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It's, opening weekend or it's,

I don't know, you need to ride.

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You know, you need to

to do no crash course and and do,

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I don't know whether it's

which kind of races.

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But they're they gave me the room,

and they immediately saw that.

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Okay, if we if we can if we can do this,

he will he will deliver.

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I think that is a really big,

step in the learning

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curve there for for the team and for you

that you can build up trust on, on

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both sides.

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And it paid off.

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Hey, I'm just curious that super hard

training you did before to have Poland.

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Yeah. What was it?

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How many hours?

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What sort of intervals?

What gave you the feeling that.

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Oh, man, I'm on top of it. I'm good. Now.

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It's, it's a it's a it's a training

I do a lot.

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It's, eight times, ten minutes.

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On, Rosier climb in the Ardennes.

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What, eight times ten. Yeah.

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It's it's 80 minutes.

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It's an hour 24 I guess.

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It's it's a five hour training. Yeah.

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And on only the effort stake

already like two hours 30 or 2 hours. 40.

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Yeah. Wow.

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And you're doing that at your quote

unquote threshold

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FTP sort of intensity

or are you kind of stair step in those.

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It depends.

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I did some at like, always the same pace,

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you know,

but I, I usually go like, to go

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a little bit deeper in that

the first one is like 20, 40.

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The second one is like, steady pace,

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ten minutes, like just above threshold.

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Second one is 30/30.

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Then, third one is again

just above threshold.

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Then it's, a 40/20, then again

ten minutes just above threshold.

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And then it's like, one more,

which is three minutes,

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then two minutes a little bit lower

and three minutes and two minutes again.

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And then the last one is all out.

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So, so you mentioned that

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you prefer solo

training over group training.

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I think I know your answer to this one,

but why?

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Why do you choose?

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Solo training over group training?

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If, if I'm in the wheels, I'm

not training.

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Yeah.

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That's true.

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And you always.

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It's so easy to get corrupted.

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I mean, in a friendly, in a positive way

by your friends, you know?

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Yeah.

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You know, you have to plan. Okay.

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I'm going to do one hour warm up,

and then I stop at intervals,

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and then your friends go, you know what?

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Why don't we go 1.5 hours easy,

and then you start to enter.

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What's,

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Why don't you stop at a coffee shop

and then you do the interval.

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So when you alone,

you can exactly do what you want.

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Exactly.

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So I see the comfort in the group,

but also the potential problem.

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Right. And I believe that's another reason

why you go.

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If I'm alone, I can decide

when I want to go on some days

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I really love to to ride with some friends

and with a group and.

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But then everyone knows that

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the guys that I'm training with,

except for when it's in a team,

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you know, then it's different

when you're on training camp.

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But when I'm at home or in Spain

and training with some guys,

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they just know that

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I will always ride in the front

and I will almost not sit in the wheels.

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But I can I can always enjoy a nice group

ride, that's for sure.

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But,

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not when when I have to train.

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I always like to have.

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The quality is really high every day.

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I, I definitely went through

different phases in my career of,

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you know, group training,

and I let that kind of take over.

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And like you said, Jens

that four hour ride would turn into a six

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hour ride,

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maybe even a seven hour ride,

because you'd stop at three different

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coffee shops

and just kind of waste your time.

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: 00:17:11

But when you're out there

riding by yourself,

317

: 00:17:14

you can get the work in that

you need to get in in four hours

318

: 00:17:17

and then go back and recover and go back

319

: 00:17:20

and spend time with your family

and doing things that you want to do.

320

: 00:17:23

So, another really good thing.

321

: 00:17:26

So are you fueling the same

322

: 00:17:29

during this sort of intense training

that you would in the races?

323

: 00:17:32

Because what you just described

is definitely,

324

: 00:17:37

using a lot of sugar.

325

: 00:17:40

Yeah.

326

: 00:17:40

And I think that Jens our generation

until maybe the last couple of years,

327

: 00:17:45

we just didn't really ever eat enough

during the training.

328

: 00:17:49

But are you preparing, like, your bottles

and the stuff that you have

329

: 00:17:53

in your pockets or that,

330

: 00:17:54

you know somebody may be following you

in the car to to take

331

: 00:17:58

on a massive load of carbohydrates

to fuel these intense efforts?

332

: 00:18:01

You, should you even start

need to start thinking already.

333

: 00:18:05

Almost the day before because it almost

feels like a race day, you know?

334

: 00:18:09

And when it's a really hot

or a really cold day,

335

: 00:18:14

I try to have someone following me

because, as I said, it's like a

336

: 00:18:18

two hour, 30

minute, 2 hour, 40 minute effort nonstop,

337

: 00:18:21

just going up and down and, Yeah,

if it's hard, you just drink.

338

: 00:18:26

Almost.

339

: 00:18:28

Yeah. Two and a half, three liters in.

340

: 00:18:29

In that time, you cannot bring

bring all of this with you.

341

: 00:18:33

But yeah, it's it's it's,

342

: 00:18:37

it's getting more and more normal to,

343

: 00:18:42

to don't even go under

100g, of carbs per hour

344

: 00:18:47

for a whole.

345

: 00:18:49

Yeah.

346

: 00:18:49

I mean, back in our early days,

do you recall,

347

: 00:18:51

if you eat within the first hour

your week, that's bad.

348

: 00:18:54

You know, they would laugh at you

if you start to eat in the first year.

349

: 00:18:57

Oh, I see why you you're so we.

350

: 00:18:59

If I do a four hour easy ride,

I'm not 100g, but, trainings like this.

351

: 00:19:04

Yeah. You should.

352

: 00:19:05

It's it's probably above as well.

353

: 00:19:08

Yeah.

354

: 00:19:11

So when, when, you,

355

: 00:19:13

now going into the cyclocross season,

356

: 00:19:17

a saddle crosses is about an hour, right?

357

: 00:19:21

You still eat within that one hour,

or you charge up once.

358

: 00:19:25

We already talk about food,

359

: 00:19:26

you already charge up before,

and then you don't eat any.

360

: 00:19:29

I don't need anything

during this one hour.

361

: 00:19:32

Except for when it's really hard to.

362

: 00:19:34

I just have a, like,

a bottle of, energy or is.

363

: 00:19:38

I don't drink, you know, but,

that's almost, almost never.

364

: 00:19:42

So it's just you're just fully loaded

and you're good to go for one hour.

365

: 00:19:47

I definitely want to ask more

about cyclocross, but I have to ask you

366

: 00:19:50

this question because, you know,

you're you're considered a sprinter now.

367

: 00:19:55

I mean, you don't win those races

without being a sprinter, but you, you

368

: 00:19:59

you have been quoted as saying

369

: 00:20:01

that sprinters are sometimes

not the nicest guys in the peloton.

370

: 00:20:05

And what happens in a sprint is sometimes

criminal, literally criminal.

371

: 00:20:10

I was never a sprinter.

372

: 00:20:11

I was that way in the back

trying to stay clear of those guys.

373

: 00:20:15

But you did

see those clashes from time to time.

374

: 00:20:21

If you're a sprinter,

375

: 00:20:23

that means that you're like seeing

376

: 00:20:25

these, these moves

and seeing the fear a little bit.

377

: 00:20:28

How do you combat that?

378

: 00:20:30

Because when we spoke with your dad,

your dad said he was terrified

379

: 00:20:33

watching you in these sprints.

380

: 00:20:35

But what is kind of a little bit

of explanation of of of what

381

: 00:20:40

I just said about your your quotes of it

being sometimes, quite nasty up there.

382

: 00:20:45

Well, the good thing is, I'm not I'm

not a full hundred percent pure sprinter.

383

: 00:20:49

You know,

I won 11 races now or ten, 10 or 11 races.

384

: 00:20:53

And I never won in a on a flat,

finish line.

385

: 00:20:57

But on the other hand, you,

386

: 00:21:01

you see those scenarios and

387

: 00:21:02

you're involved in all of those sprints,

at a really high speed.

388

: 00:21:07

And most of the time,

the things you see in TV is like the first

389

: 00:21:11

five of the first ten guys.

390

: 00:21:13

And then,

they speak about someone crossing, over

391

: 00:21:18

or moving from their line or,

boxing someone else in.

392

: 00:21:22

But the real shit is like 10 or 20 plays

behind this, you know, where

393

: 00:21:27

everyone is still trying to move up

and and going crazy.

394

: 00:21:30

And the higher the level of the race,

the that the, the less dangerous it gets.

395

: 00:21:35

But for example,

I wrote a tour of Hungary.

396

: 00:21:39

Now, two years in a row,

I see some things that it's it's crazy.

397

: 00:21:43

It's really crazy.

398

: 00:21:44

People taking their, their, their hands

399

: 00:21:48

over their handlebars and just, like,

almost grabbing on someone else.

400

: 00:21:52

And then. Yeah, it's crazy.

401

: 00:21:54

It's not all the time,

but there, there happens some there.

402

: 00:21:58

Yeah, it just happens. And it's not nice.

403

: 00:22:01

Did do you, you think when you see about

404

: 00:22:04

it seems to be safe at higher quality

or higher standard level races

405

: 00:22:09

that people like two of Hungary

for example, they are desperate.

406

: 00:22:13

That is the one and only chance

in the entire year

407

: 00:22:16

to perform in front of world two teams.

408

: 00:22:20

So they want to have a podium place or win

so they can see, hey, look,

409

: 00:22:25

I'm good enough to take to be

a member of Lidl-Trek or Quick-Step or,

410

: 00:22:31

you know, Ineos Grenadiers, maybe more

411

: 00:22:34

because he desperate to get in

and when you already.

412

: 00:22:37

I mean, you know, Pogacar or Vingegaard,

they don't want to crash

413

: 00:22:41

because they already established.

414

: 00:22:43

You think there's a connection

or is it just it's it's it's both because,

415

: 00:22:47

as you said, like the, the GC guys, they

don't get involved in the, the sprint.

416

: 00:22:51

And when you see a really a pure,

bunch sprint

417

: 00:22:55

in the Tour de France,

you see like maybe there is still like,

418

: 00:23:00

20 guys,

25 guys and then the rest is coming like

419

: 00:23:03

little by little, still in one line,

but not the full bunch, you know, and,

420

: 00:23:09

the other thing is when a race

like to the Hungary tour of Hungary

421

: 00:23:13

in the when it's, for our race,

the first three hours, you have like

422

: 00:23:17

maybe 120, 110 average power,

so no one is getting dropped.

423

: 00:23:23

Everyone is fresh yoursel,

and everyone thinks they can.

424

: 00:23:27

They can be there and they want to be

there and on world to level.

425

: 00:23:31

These days, 60 K to go with the road

is just fully blocked and you're riding

426

: 00:23:35

60 K an hour and the guys in front

are pushing 500 towards and it's.

427

: 00:23:39

And when you, you know,

you want to move up,

428

: 00:23:41

you need to do a full sprint

to maybe catch one guy in the next corner.

429

: 00:23:45

You lose again 2 or 3 spots.

430

: 00:23:47

So everyone is completely on their limit.

431

: 00:23:50

And which also results that the

432

: 00:23:55

the sprints in the end are a bit safer

because it takes,

433

: 00:23:59

there is a lot of energy

already taken away.

434

: 00:24:03

But when, when you win as many races

as you have during

435

: 00:24:06

the first two seasons of your career,

you know there's a progression.

436

: 00:24:10

Sure, there's going to be a lot of races

with that uphill

437

: 00:24:13

finish that you're obviously

very gifted and talented at.

438

: 00:24:16

But what are you looking at for

to focus on next year?

439

: 00:24:21

Because it's always step by step, right?

440

: 00:24:24

People want more and more.

441

: 00:24:25

Are you looking at the monuments?

442

: 00:24:27

A race like Strade Bianche? Amstel?

443

: 00:24:30

What what what what sort of changes

do you see in your race program

444

: 00:24:33

for next year compared?

445

: 00:24:34

Like, I think Strada and especially San

Remo will suit me in the future,

446

: 00:24:38

but it will be just too soon for next year

because cyclocross is still there.

447

: 00:24:43

And then there's still a really important

to me.

448

: 00:24:45

And it's almost impossible

to to race from now

449

: 00:24:48

and then go on to Saturday

more and everything.

450

: 00:24:51

But I think in the future

I really want to do those races.

451

: 00:24:57

But if, if I look forward to next year,

there is one race

452

: 00:25:01

that really pops into my mind immediately

every time.

453

: 00:25:05

And that's, flesh.

454

: 00:25:06

Well, on and, I will

I will really try to be there

455

: 00:25:11

at my best level possible, and,

I will, I will do, solo.

456

: 00:25:16

Also, normally.

457

: 00:25:19

It's a good race

458

: 00:25:20

because it's 50km shorter,

so that makes a huge difference.

459

: 00:25:25

It's 1.5 hours less of racing.

460

: 00:25:27

You are younger. Right.

461

: 00:25:28

So maybe, you know, I like to be good.

462

: 00:25:31

I like to do the long races.

463

: 00:25:33

Okay. Yeah.

464

: 00:25:34

Yeah, I really, like, should suit you.

465

: 00:25:36

Suit you really well, I think so.

466

: 00:25:39

I think the finish line,

is something that

467

: 00:25:42

that that could fit my, my qualities,

you know, and,

468

: 00:25:47

I think one of the first times

I really wrote, beautifully,

469

: 00:25:53

a couple of years ago

with the cyclocross team and,

470

: 00:25:58

I really that that's not even,

471

: 00:26:00

a period in my life

where I ever thought I was going to be

472

: 00:26:04

a road rider or, racing on the road

winning races on the road.

473

: 00:26:08

But at that time,

I know when I was thinking

474

: 00:26:11

if I would ever win a road race,

it would be this one.

475

: 00:26:14

And now it's funny to see myself evolving

476

: 00:26:18

in this kind of rider

that could win there potentially one day.

477

: 00:26:22

And it's nice.

478

: 00:26:23

So, I think this is, first

big goal of next year.

479

: 00:26:29

Okay.

480

: 00:26:30

So you said that you liked longer races

and we've been watching

481

: 00:26:34

today, Pogacar

recently at the Worlds in Lombardia.

482

: 00:26:38

Do these ultra long attacks.

483

: 00:26:41

Does that style of racing,

484

: 00:26:44

those long bombs that he's chucking out

and coming away with the victories,

485

: 00:26:50

does that impact how you train?

486

: 00:26:53

You know, looking at those longer efforts?

487

: 00:26:55

Or is it just the

the team has to be more kind

488

: 00:27:00

of consolidated to control

that initial acceleration that he makes?

489

: 00:27:05

I never been in a race with him.

490

: 00:27:06

Like this.

491

: 00:27:08

So, yeah, he's he's

492

: 00:27:11

he's rewriting the rules of cycling,

you know, and it's,

493

: 00:27:16

I think everyone is, for the moment,

and panicking

494

: 00:27:20

with their hands in their hair,

not knowing how to approach this problem

495

: 00:27:23

and, and

and to to see how we can avoid this.

496

: 00:27:27

But it's, it's getting crazy, and,

497

: 00:27:30

I'm, I'm not thinking too much about it,

and I'm just trying to

498

: 00:27:35

to focus on being in a super shape myself

499

: 00:27:38

and taking my chances

where where it is possible.

500

: 00:27:42

But I don't think

501

: 00:27:45

there are a lot of, times where,

502

: 00:27:48

like, a break

503

: 00:27:51

made it in, for example, flesh

or the guys going solo because it's always

504

: 00:27:55

just in the last game, seeing

who is the strongest.

505

: 00:27:58

But imagine the shape he’s in now.

506

: 00:28:01

Yeah, maybe he will go.

507

: 00:28:04

So no, I don't know.

508

: 00:28:05

On on the the last time I do

the penultimate last time on on the way

509

: 00:28:09

and then, then we see something

that is never been been seen before.

510

: 00:28:13

And then it takes also away my qualities,

you know, because then we are racing

511

: 00:28:17

a totally different race.

512

: 00:28:21

And I

513

: 00:28:22

was also wondering sometimes in these days

if you go to a sport director and go,

514

: 00:28:27

hey, next season I want to do every ways

where Pogacar is not right,

515

: 00:28:32

but then then you go, and

I also don't want to race with Vingegaard,

516

: 00:28:36

with Remco and Wout van

Aert and Mathieu van der Poel.

517

: 00:28:39

There are so many superstars.

518

: 00:28:42

It isn't.

519

: 00:28:42

It's sometimes like a little bit

520

: 00:28:44

frightening to go,

oh my, we've got five absolute superstars.

521

: 00:28:49

Where's my little place in this world?

522

: 00:28:51

Because I don't think, Bobby in our time,

we had such dominant riders

523

: 00:28:55

like we see this year.

524

: 00:28:56

Right.

525

: 00:28:57

Or this is just part of a cycling

right now.

526

: 00:29:00

So it's it's sometimes frightening

or you go, I cannot wait

527

: 00:29:04

to go face to face against but it's

528

: 00:29:07

when you I think when you,

529

: 00:29:11

when you really compete on, on let's say,

530

: 00:29:15

on their strong parts.

531

: 00:29:18

I mean, I would be, I would be scared

to, to go head

532

: 00:29:22

to head with Mathieu and Roubaix,

you know, but just the same as

533

: 00:29:26

I would be really scared to go head

to head with Vingegaard on the long climb.

534

: 00:29:30

But I would just try to,

535

: 00:29:34

to get better at my specialty.

536

: 00:29:36

And we also saw, for example,

in Poland that,

537

: 00:29:39

even on the highest level,

when finger guard is there,

538

: 00:29:44

this is something I can be maybe the guy

in, in the, in the future that that,

539

: 00:29:49

that is this guy in this type of finishes.

540

: 00:29:53

So I, I really like

541

: 00:29:55

when the, when the, with the big stars

that are there and,

542

: 00:29:59

it motivates me and I also look up,

543

: 00:30:04

with a lot of,

yeah enthusiasm to how they are riding

544

: 00:30:09

and with a lot of respect and, yeah,

I don't see negative.

545

: 00:30:13

I, I see it

as a, as a nice thing to compete with.

546

: 00:30:16

okay.

547

: 00:30:17

I have one more question

about your road program, because I know we

548

: 00:30:21

we have a lot of questions

about cyclocross.

549

: 00:30:24

Do you see a grand tour in your future

this next year in: 2025

550

: 00:30:29

90% sure. Yes,

551

: 00:30:32

yes. Yeah.

552

: 00:30:33

And if I can ask, which one

would you prefer to do?

553

: 00:30:36

This is also a difficult question

because, for me, it really don't matter.

554

: 00:30:43

I mean, if I would do,

would Giro, Vuelta or tour or even Tour?

555

: 00:30:47

For me, it it really don't matter.

556

: 00:30:50

But the thing is that Giro will be a

quite soon or after a cyclocross season.

557

: 00:30:56

But but I think possible

558

: 00:31:00

to starting a tour is,

is maybe also a bit like,

559

: 00:31:03

not a usual thing to do,

especially in our team.

560

: 00:31:07

But then to start at

Vuelta is already really close

561

: 00:31:10

to the next cyclocross season.

562

: 00:31:11

So it all has as there are consequences,

you know?

563

: 00:31:15

And when you would have asked me,

I would say the tour because the

564

: 00:31:20

just the timing is the

is the easiest for me, for my schedule,

565

: 00:31:24

for my build up towards the cyclocross

season and towards the road season.

566

: 00:31:28

So, I would prefer Tour de France,

567

: 00:31:32

but it's, I'm the last guy to, to say,

568

: 00:31:37

hey, guys, I need this part, or

I want this part, or I deserve this part.

569

: 00:31:40

It's something you need to earn.

570

: 00:31:42

And, I will follow the team

with their advice and with the plan.

571

: 00:31:46

They see, for

me the next couple of years.

572

: 00:31:50

Well, then

573

: 00:31:50

let's make a transition

with a daring question to cyclocross,

574

: 00:31:54

because cyclocross is going to become

a presently a sport at the Olympics.

575

: 00:32:00

I'm curious,

are you focusing already on that?

576

: 00:32:03

Looking forward

to race the Olympics in: 2030

577

: 00:32:06

And cyclocross?

578

: 00:32:08

And do you believe it will help cyclocross

579

: 00:32:11

to become worldwide more popular?

580

: 00:32:14

But for the moment,

I'm not looking that far into the future.

581

: 00:32:19

Because I'm, I'm really busy

getting getting myself

582

: 00:32:23

into shape and holding myself into shape

now for the moment.

583

: 00:32:26

But it can be interesting, you know,

584

: 00:32:30

I mean, it's clear

that cyclocross is not what it used to be.

585

: 00:32:35

From the year 2010 - 2015,

586

: 00:32:40

I don't know, but

587

: 00:32:44

I'm not 100% sure

588

: 00:32:45

that this is the way to get it

bigger, to get it into the Olympics.

589

: 00:32:48

I mean, we

we try to go to the States as well to,

590

: 00:32:53

to do the World Cups over there,

which was,

591

: 00:32:56

which was something

I always really love to do.

592

: 00:32:59

I really like the atmosphere

there, the people to raise

593

: 00:33:02

do the trip and to and to be there.

594

: 00:33:05

But,

595

: 00:33:07

you cannot

forget that it's just a local sport.

596

: 00:33:10

It's Belgium and Netherlands

and for the rest.

597

: 00:33:12

Yeah. Okay.

We have some World Cups in France.

598

: 00:33:14

We have some World Cups in Spain or Italy,

but it's all based around Belgium.

599

: 00:33:19

And,

600

: 00:33:21

when it's big in Belgium, it's really big.

601

: 00:33:24

And I don't see it as a problem

that it's only big here.

602

: 00:33:28

And now we are trying to make it big

in all over the world,

603

: 00:33:32

but we are forgetting the core that it's

604

: 00:33:34

getting less big in Belgium,

if that makes sense.

605

: 00:33:37

And if you know what I mean.

606

: 00:33:39

Like, we are losing a little bit of the,

607

: 00:33:44

yeah, the,

608

: 00:33:45

the core business,

you know, like the tradition.

609

: 00:33:48

Keeping it big in Belgium.

610

: 00:33:50

Yeah.

611

: 00:33:52

And, I want to

612

: 00:33:54

I don't I don't see how the Olympics

is going to change all of this, you know.

613

: 00:34:01

Good point.

614

: 00:34:01

Good point.

615

: 00:34:02

Well, I have to ask

because I have no idea,

616

: 00:34:06

what sort of training?

617

: 00:34:09

Like what changes in your training from

the road season to the cyclocross season?

618

: 00:34:14

And how long do you think that transition

takes to get, like, ping in

619

: 00:34:19

from being from pinging on the road

620

: 00:34:22

to making that switch

and then pinging in cyclocross?

621

: 00:34:25

I think this was something,

622

: 00:34:28

I could give you a perfect

answer to, normally

623

: 00:34:33

in a normal situation

or maybe even in 2 or 3 weeks.

624

: 00:34:37

But after my last road race

in where I took a week off

625

: 00:34:41

and I got really sick after this,

this period.

626

: 00:34:45

So it was again, a bit like,

before I had two weeks

627

: 00:34:49

of staying completely off the bike.

628

: 00:34:51

And this put me back some time, you know,

and I still need to

629

: 00:34:55

to regain my shape, at this time.

630

: 00:34:59

So for the moment, I'm

not really where I want to be.

631

: 00:35:02

But to come back at your question,

I think it only takes me two weeks.

632

: 00:35:08

One and a half even, but.

633

: 00:35:11

Well, then,

634

: 00:35:15

I need to be also at my top road shape,

you know what I mean?

635

: 00:35:18

So if if I just have, for example,

my shape

636

: 00:35:22

after, Poland or before

637

: 00:35:25

Poland, just give me one week

638

: 00:35:28

or two weeks and I will be ready

to win cyclocross races.

639

: 00:35:33

The only problem

640

: 00:35:35

I have right now is that, I'm

641

: 00:35:37

not yet on this road, top shape yet.

642

: 00:35:41

And with, cyclocross,

643

: 00:35:44

it is, a different sport and road racing.

644

: 00:35:47

We had a German

rider was pretty much almost a legend.

645

: 00:35:50

Kluge.

646

: 00:35:53

He was three times world champion.

647

: 00:35:55

He actually used to do some running,

like getting into a trainer.

648

: 00:35:59

He would start, like an hour,

40 minutes ride

649

: 00:36:02

and then running for a while

and then cycling again.

650

: 00:36:05

You do that stuff as well,

or you go, not that's that's 30 years ago.

651

: 00:36:10

We don't do that anymore. No,

not like this. I do.

652

: 00:36:13

I have some running trainings for sure.

653

: 00:36:15

2 or 3 times in a week

I go for a easy run, just more of a,

654

: 00:36:19

it's more of, like muscle memory,

you know, that you don't

655

: 00:36:22

you come into the race

and it all feels quite natural

656

: 00:36:25

when you have to run for,

for some time, but, not with, like,

657

: 00:36:29

switching bikes to, to, running shoes

and then on and on again.

658

: 00:36:34

No, not not like this. But I do run. Yeah.

659

: 00:36:38

So, so in

660

: 00:36:39

cyclocross you ride for the Baloise Trek

Lions.

661

: 00:36:42

And your dad just happens

to be your boss.

662

: 00:36:46

So do you call him dad.

663

: 00:36:48

Do you call him Mr. Nys.

664

: 00:36:49

Do you call him boss.

665

: 00:36:51

Like that's got to be

a pretty interesting dynamic.

666

: 00:36:54

I it it just Dad for the moment.

667

: 00:36:56

Yeah, yeah.

668

: 00:36:57

Okay.

669

: 00:36:58

We also in public in training, in races.

670

: 00:37:00

Hey, dad.

671

: 00:37:00

Next, next lap I change bikes.

672

: 00:37:03

Yeah yeah yeah yeah. Awesome.

673

: 00:37:05

That is so cool.

674

: 00:37:06

But I think he manages in a way that,

675

: 00:37:09

the me and also the whole team

don't have the feeling that,

676

: 00:37:15

he's treating me in a different way

than than the other guys.

677

: 00:37:19

And I think we've

we found a perfect balance in this,

678

: 00:37:22

and,

Yeah, I think I think we're managing.

679

: 00:37:25

Well.

680

: 00:37:27

So then,

681

: 00:37:28

some technical parts,

for your next race weekend, is it

682

: 00:37:32

how many bikes, equipment will you bring?

683

: 00:37:36

How do we have to imagine this?

684

: 00:37:39

Because you.

685

: 00:37:39

You're not with the road,

little track team.

686

: 00:37:42

You're with the second cross team.

687

: 00:37:43

Now, how much equipment you use

for one weekend?

688

: 00:37:46

I have

I will have four race bikes with me

689

: 00:37:49

with, approximately

690

: 00:37:53

12 or 13 sets of wheels.

691

: 00:37:56

Oh, that's one set of wheels.

692

: 00:37:59

Parallel. Yeah, so to speak.

693

: 00:38:01

And a lot of people who are into road

cycling, they don't really realize,

694

: 00:38:06

but every cyclocross rider

has their own mechanic.

695

: 00:38:10

Two of them, most of the time,

their own camper,

696

: 00:38:13

their own, whole, like, little crew,

you know, and we are traveling around,

697

: 00:38:18

from race to race,

which is like on the road.

698

: 00:38:21

You just have the, the team bus

and do mechanics and that's it.

699

: 00:38:25

But everyone is traveling

with their own small team,

700

: 00:38:28

you know, and and yeah,

701

: 00:38:31

you have to, to, to be nice for your team

702

: 00:38:34

or for your crew and, it's, it's

really a family thing, you know, you do.

703

: 00:38:38

You wake up in the morning,

you go to the race, and in the evening,

704

: 00:38:41

you're you're back

home, and you, you have dinner together,

705

: 00:38:44

and you discuss what, what, what when good

what what we need to improve.

706

: 00:38:48

And the next day we go again.

707

: 00:38:49

And it's,

it's really a nice, a nice family thing.

708

: 00:38:54

So having

709

: 00:38:55

multiple guys on your team with their own

individual mini team explained to me

710

: 00:39:01

teamwork in cyclocross,

because on the road it's it's paramount.

711

: 00:39:06

Right.

712

: 00:39:06

But if you're is it just that you guys

have the same jersey on and the same

713

: 00:39:12

bicycle sponsor, or are you guys actually

helping each other in, in a race?

714

: 00:39:17

It's

715

: 00:39:20

of course it's difficult,

more different than on the road,

716

: 00:39:23

but I would describe it the best as,

717

: 00:39:26

we not going to ride against each other

718

: 00:39:29

more than we can help each other,

if that makes sense.

719

: 00:39:33

You know, it's it's almost impossible

to come into the race with a race plan.

720

: 00:39:37

We're not doing this. It's.

721

: 00:39:39

This is not the way cyclocross works.

722

: 00:39:42

But for sure when when your teammate

is in the front and,

723

: 00:39:47

you're in the group behind,

you're not going to catch him back.

724

: 00:39:51

With a rival in your in your wheel.

725

: 00:39:54

You know, you're not bringing anyone.

726

: 00:39:56

Anyone, to the front.

727

: 00:39:59

Just like this.

728

: 00:40:01

Yeah, it's it's more like

729

: 00:40:04

not working against each other then.

730

: 00:40:06

Then making a plan and then

and then doing something like this.

731

: 00:40:11

And,

just for for me as a nonprofessional.

732

: 00:40:15

Yeah. What what key are use in a moment?

733

: 00:40:18

It seems like it's a chain ring in a front

because nobody uses double chain

734

: 00:40:22

ring anymore.

735

: 00:40:23

I think Shimano is still,

the guys on Shimano

736

: 00:40:25

still, ride double chain rings I think

Mathieu is still riding double as well.

737

: 00:40:30

Okay, so you got one chain ring

and then how is your cassette

738

: 00:40:33

11 to 35 or how is it

depends on the course.

739

: 00:40:37

I'm most of the time,

I'm riding, 46 in a front

740

: 00:40:43

and then in the back it's, 1033 or 1036.

741

: 00:40:49

I think most of the time is 33.

742

: 00:40:51

But the race on open

that if, for example,

743

: 00:40:54

then we go, we need to

we really need to go for a smaller gear.

744

: 00:40:57

You're kind of following in the footsteps

of riders like Tom Pidcock, Mathieu

745

: 00:41:03

van der Poel that have trans transferred

746

: 00:41:08

to the road and quite successful,

747

: 00:41:12

in the road as well as cyclocross.

748

: 00:41:16

Do you

think any time in the immediate future

749

: 00:41:19

that you will make that decision

to concentrate a little bit

750

: 00:41:22

more on the road,

or is this just so in your blood,

751

: 00:41:25

so engrained in you from your your father,

from your family, from your country,

752

: 00:41:30

that this is always going to be a part

of what makes you happy.

753

: 00:41:35

I think I can be clear on that, that it's

always going to be a part for sure.

754

: 00:41:39

The way I will feel in this season

with the amount of races

755

: 00:41:44

in maybe five years,

that's that's something I cannot predict.

756

: 00:41:49

The difference also,

757

: 00:41:52

Matthieu and Wout,

they won everything they, they gained

758

: 00:41:57

or there is to win in cyclocross already

material is a six time world champion.

759

: 00:42:01

They won all the classifications.

760

: 00:42:02

They got national champion,

European champion.

761

: 00:42:05

So when you're at this point

you can also make the,

762

: 00:42:09

transition a bit easier in the head

to, to focus on something else.

763

: 00:42:13

When everything is achieved.

764

: 00:42:15

And for I think, let's say Tom Pidcock,

765

: 00:42:19

of course he's been world

champion as well in cyclocross,

766

: 00:42:23

but this is less of a culture thing

than, than what I have.

767

: 00:42:27

I mean, I grew up going to those races

week after week seeing my dad.

768

: 00:42:32

Racing and winning and,

769

: 00:42:36

the connection with the fans

and everything.

770

: 00:42:40

And this is something that,

that I would love to, to to feel as well.

771

: 00:42:45

Like, like he always did.

772

: 00:42:46

And now that's,

773

: 00:42:49

that's kind of the way I see it

in, in the next couple of years to,

774

: 00:42:53

to relieve this feeling

of having the fans, really close to you.

775

: 00:42:58

And you can you could

you have the power to to,

776

: 00:43:02

to entertain them in the race? Yeah.

777

: 00:43:07

And how is it with the Belgium fans?

778

: 00:43:10

Yeah.

779

: 00:43:10

Close to the to the course,

of course, in a cycle cross race.

780

: 00:43:14

At a fair to everyone.

781

: 00:43:16

The cheer on the French. Right.

782

: 00:43:18

The cheer on Tom Pidcock to cheer on you

783

: 00:43:21

or you're going to be a crowd favorite

because your your Belgium

784

: 00:43:25

and or when you race in Holland

are the booing on you.

785

: 00:43:30

They go, yeah, go meet you and boo at you.

786

: 00:43:33

How how is that

how well do I have to understand?

787

: 00:43:35

That was defense in cyclocross,

I think, to describe it the best.

788

: 00:43:41

I think you need to see cyclocross

as, like, a TV soap, like a drama.

789

: 00:43:45

You know, week from week,

there is another episode, you know,

790

: 00:43:48

and we go, oh, yeah,

the season is started.

791

: 00:43:52

And, every, every week

you get another episode.

792

: 00:43:56

And it really depends on how the riders

793

: 00:44:00

are, reacting.

794

: 00:44:03

They're reacting in the interviews,

reacting towards, the other riders,

795

: 00:44:07

doing a bit of thrash dog

doing a bit of this and that.

796

: 00:44:11

And this is where the sport really used

to live from in a couple of years ago,

797

: 00:44:16

you know, I don't know

if you saw the first race last weekend,

798

: 00:44:20

but there was a big

a big thing about Eli Iserbyt

799

: 00:44:23

breaking the wheel of, of another rider

just.

800

: 00:44:27

Oh, yeah.

801

: 00:44:28

Jumping full guys on the wheel.

802

: 00:44:30

And it's something you don't do.

803

: 00:44:32

But this is what what cyclocross makes

what it makes big, you know?

804

: 00:44:36

And what people have

something to talk about. And,

805

: 00:44:43

and they will carry it with them

in the next couple of races.

806

: 00:44:45

So I'm sure, I'm not sure you will have

807

: 00:44:50

a nice time, riding next to the fans

next, next week.

808

: 00:44:54

And this is what makes it all interesting.

809

: 00:44:56

It it all depends on how you how you treat

the fans, how you speak in the media.

810

: 00:45:01

It's such a different thing than than

just the road to racing.

811

: 00:45:05

It's it's.

812

: 00:45:07

Yeah, it's, a national, TV drama,

you know what I mean?

813

: 00:45:12

Like, yeah,

814

: 00:45:14

it's a bit exaggerated, but you know what

I, what I'm saying, you know.

815

: 00:45:17

Yeah, yeah, yeah,

yeah, yeah, of course, 100%.

816

: 00:45:20

And you've said so many, it's very,

very intelligent.

817

: 00:45:24

Maybe even beyond your years things here.

818

: 00:45:28

And you're representing the new generation

very well

819

: 00:45:31

because it seems like these guys have it

figured out a lot earlier than we did.

820

: 00:45:35

Yeah.

821

: 00:45:36

But you know, you grew up

822

: 00:45:39

with from a very young age

with a superstar dad.

823

: 00:45:43

And we're seeing more and more of riders

of my generation, next generation,

824

: 00:45:48

having kids that are now successful

coming into the world tour, coming into,

825

: 00:45:54

you know, the Olympics, the World

Championships, the women's peloton.

826

: 00:45:57

What bit of advice

would you have for those young kids

827

: 00:46:02

who have a famous dad or a famous mom to

828

: 00:46:07

transition in,

829

: 00:46:08

in the sport and then still keep it

as real as you're keeping it?

830

: 00:46:12

Well, I would say just,

831

: 00:46:15

follow your own path.

832

: 00:46:17

It's maybe a bit of,

a cliché answer, but,

833

: 00:46:21

just make it your own thing

and don't try to copy.

834

: 00:46:26

I also never really felt

835

: 00:46:29

the pressure of the outside of the fence

of the of the media, of the people who,

836

: 00:46:35

would think it needs

837

: 00:46:38

to, to be like his dad or

he needs to win this in this in this race.

838

: 00:46:41

I always only feel the pressure

I have from myself and,

839

: 00:46:45

I think it's really important

to write my own,

840

: 00:46:49

book my own story, you know,

841

: 00:46:52

and I'm never focused on.

842

: 00:46:57

Okay, my dad has done this, so

I also, I have to do this or I don't know.

843

: 00:47:01

No, I.

844

: 00:47:04

Yeah.

845

: 00:47:05

Yeah.

846

: 00:47:05

You also never teach me how to do things.

847

: 00:47:09

See, he left his way and

848

: 00:47:13

and he let me see how it's going.

849

: 00:47:15

You know, how it should be.

850

: 00:47:16

And,

851

: 00:47:19

I think I can say I took the.

852

: 00:47:22

Of course, it's a lot of positive

and negative sides about,

853

: 00:47:26

having a really famous dad or,

with a with a big, big career.

854

: 00:47:31

But and I just try to take

the positive points from it

855

: 00:47:35

and leave the negative side.

856

: 00:47:40

I think that's a really great point of,

looking at it.

857

: 00:47:43

I think something similar.

858

: 00:47:44

Axel Merckx once said to the press look,

I know who my dad is, but, hey,

859

: 00:47:49

we all know I.

860

: 00:47:50

There's

no way I'm going to have his talent.

861

: 00:47:52

So please, they

862

: 00:47:53

give me a chance to follow my own path,

you know, don't judge me with my dad.

863

: 00:47:57

Something similar.

864

: 00:47:58

Like you said.

865

: 00:47:59

That's a nice a nice approach. There. So.

866

: 00:48:02

But that's also something really typical

about the Belgian,

867

: 00:48:06

media, the Belgian fans,

you know, they can

868

: 00:48:12

they can hold you on their hands

for, for two weeks, and then they break

869

: 00:48:15

you down completely to the ground

if the next race is shit and,

870

: 00:48:22

I always

have the feeling there is like a saying.

871

: 00:48:24

I don't really know exactly how it went.

872

: 00:48:27

It's about, if my critics, saw me

873

: 00:48:31

walking over water, they would say it was

because I couldn't swim, you know?

874

: 00:48:35

And this is a big, it's going

I mean, good.

875

: 00:48:40

For example, Remco Evenepoel

had a crazy season podium at the tour,

876

: 00:48:45

double Olympic champion,

a world champion. TT.

877

: 00:48:49

What more do you want?

878

: 00:48:51

And then there will be people saying,

yeah, but, you don't win the tour.

879

: 00:48:55

You cannot beat Pogacar.

880

: 00:48:56

Come on, man, be happy with with what

a crazy talent we have.

881

: 00:49:00

And,

882

: 00:49:03

if I win

883

: 00:49:05

31 cyclocross series is a races next year,

884

: 00:49:08

they will say, yeah,

but Mathieu Van der Poel won 33 or 34.

885

: 00:49:12

Yeah,

I don't need to beat this guy who wins.

886

: 00:49:15

Everything.

887

: 00:49:16

I just, enjoy what what

888

: 00:49:19

I'm bringing to the, to the races,

to the people, to the fans.

889

: 00:49:22

And, I'm.

890

: 00:49:24

I'm just doing my thing. Yeah.

891

: 00:49:28

So, what

892

: 00:49:29

are your goals for the cyclocross

race season this year?

893

: 00:49:33

Koppenbergcross again?

894

: 00:49:35

Or maybe the World Championships

if you get selected.

895

: 00:49:38

Well, or what's your goals?

896

: 00:49:40

The first really big goal

is just to find my top shape again.

897

: 00:49:45

I had really, really big goals,

898

: 00:49:48

ambitions and motivation

to come into the cyclocross season.

899

: 00:49:51

I really saw it.

900

: 00:49:52

That's this is going to be

my breakthrough year in cyclocross.

901

: 00:49:56

But then with the illness,

it took me back,

902

: 00:50:00

in my preparation.

903

: 00:50:01

And for the moment, I'm I'm not focused on

I want to be good in this or that race.

904

: 00:50:06

I just I'm just getting focused

on, being 100% again.

905

: 00:50:11

And if it's in two weeks, it's nice.

906

: 00:50:14

It's super nice.

907

: 00:50:15

And if it's in four weeks, it's also fine.

908

: 00:50:18

I don't want to be riding at 85%

for the whole season

909

: 00:50:22

if I, want to.

910

: 00:50:25

Do not want to overdo it now, you know?

911

: 00:50:27

So, I just try to give it my time

and try to,

912

: 00:50:30

approach it

the same way as I did before Poland.

913

: 00:50:35

But which is a bit more difficult now

914

: 00:50:38

because I have some,

some things to do a year, some sponsor.

915

: 00:50:41

Things over that in that race.

916

: 00:50:43

They want me there.

917

: 00:50:44

So it's really difficult to gain shape

once you start for a cyclocross race.

918

: 00:50:50

But that's the first big thing, you know,

getting myself at home percent again.

919

: 00:50:55

And then I want to win as much races

as possible.

920

: 00:50:58

Be consistent then,

and try to grab a jersey.

921

: 00:51:01

Yeah,

922

: 00:51:03

well, most of the

923

: 00:51:05

peloton, not yourself,

are in what we call the the off season.

924

: 00:51:09

And you obviously have quite a bit

going on.

925

: 00:51:13

You got a successful road career,

a successful cyclocross career.

926

: 00:51:18

During those breaks

that you talked about,

927

: 00:51:21

what what do you do just to relax?

928

: 00:51:24

Because it seems like, man,

you're going all the time.

929

: 00:51:28

Yeah. I don't have a lot of time.

930

: 00:51:30

I think the first break

will be after World Championships.

931

: 00:51:35

Cyclocross in 25.

932

: 00:51:37

And I will have, a short ski.

933

: 00:51:40

4 or 5 days, because I will only have

934

: 00:51:45

like, ten days of rest,

maybe a little bit less even.

935

: 00:51:48

Because I want to be good in Fleche

and I want to be good in all those races.

936

: 00:51:52

So it's more of, not really.

937

: 00:51:56

I never really have,

like an off season part.

938

: 00:51:59

It's like a week of rest over here.

939

: 00:52:00

One week of rest over there, then.

940

: 00:52:02

Then ten days over there.

941

: 00:52:04

You just work in those micro cyclists,

you know?

942

: 00:52:07

And, in this way,

943

: 00:52:10

your body really never really gets

completely exhausted,

944

: 00:52:13

or you have the feeling like, damn,

I'm completely, completely out.

945

: 00:52:19

And on the other hand, it

946

: 00:52:21

don't take a lot of time

and effort to regain this shape

947

: 00:52:26

because, you don't drop it as low

as as when you go into,

948

: 00:52:29

for a week off season.

949

: 00:52:34

So it that's also another thing

so different.

950

: 00:52:38

And, back in the old days,

we had one long road season,

951

: 00:52:42

one long offseason

and a long road season again.

952

: 00:52:46

Are you sometimes nervous

that you don't get enough rest

953

: 00:52:50

when you have ten days after the cross,

maybe ten days after the spring classics,

954

: 00:52:55

maybe ten days after the first Grand Tour.

955

: 00:52:58

But, do you feel

sometimes it's not enough for my mind,

956

: 00:53:02

and my body to refresh?

957

: 00:53:05

I didn't have the feeling yet

that it's not enough for my body,

958

: 00:53:10

and especially not for my mind.

959

: 00:53:11

As long as I keep riding

well and everything.

960

: 00:53:14

And I'm having fun, I never, ever

had the feeling I need some mental rest.

961

: 00:53:18

Never.

962

: 00:53:19

Because I'm doing what

I love the most. I'm.

963

: 00:53:23

I have the feeling

I'm not missing out on something.

964

: 00:53:25

On on drinking and having parties

and eating and everything like this.

965

: 00:53:30

I'm just.

966

: 00:53:31

This is what I love to do the most.

967

: 00:53:33

So I don't have the feeling that in

my week off or two weeks off, I need to,

968

: 00:53:42

to get back something

969

: 00:53:43

or two to, to get back some.

970

: 00:53:46

How do you say it? Like,

971

: 00:53:49

yeah, you know what I mean?

972

: 00:53:50

Like that

I had to catch up to catch some light.

973

: 00:53:53

Yeah, yeah, I need to catch up something

because I miss something.

974

: 00:53:56

That's that's.

975

: 00:53:58

I almost never have this feeling.

976

: 00:54:00

And I think that's the proof

977

: 00:54:04

where we are going the right way.

978

: 00:54:07

Well, it's proof,

because the young generation,

979

: 00:54:11

a lot of them have your attitude,

980

: 00:54:13

and you guys are wiping up the results

and doing doing what it takes.

981

: 00:54:18

And, my hat goes off to you

because, yeah, our generation

982

: 00:54:21

was a little bit different, but Thibau

thank you so much for your time today.

983

: 00:54:26

We really appreciate

it was a fantastic talk

984

: 00:54:29

and I'm just super impressed with you

not only as a cyclist,

985

: 00:54:32

but as a man, as a human being,

because some of the things that you said

986

: 00:54:35

were were fantastic.

987

: 00:54:36

So thank you so much for coming on the Odd

Tandem today, I appreciate it.

988

: 00:54:39

Thank you so much for having me.

989

: 00:54:41

Well, that's everything for this week.

990

: 00:54:44

Now, please remember to follow us

and or tandem on TikTok,

991

: 00:54:48

Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

and wherever you get your podcasts.

992

: 00:54:53

Thanks to Thibau for joining the podcast.

993

: 00:54:56

Also remember, if you want to see

the video version of this podcast,

994

: 00:55:00

it's up on our YouTube channel right now

youtube.com/oddtandem.

995

: 00:55:05

Just head to our Patreon

where you can sign up for

996

: 00:55:09

$5 a month and keep this podcast going.

997

: 00:55:13

That's patreon.com/OddTandem

998

: 00:55:18

And remember, if you want your question

in our next mailbag episode,

999

: 00:55:22

make sure you keep sending us your

questions to OddTandem@Shockedgiraffe.com

: 1000

00:55:28,867 --> 00:55:32,287

or any of our Odd Tandem

social media channels.

: 1001

00:55:32,704 --> 00:55:36,124

Thanks to our Patreon members

Scott, Steven Kimbrough,

: 1002

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Marie Teixeira, Jeff Kralik,

: 1003

00:55:39,252 --> 00:55:42,339

Brian Colon, Chris Merritt, Tim Farriss,

: 1004

00:55:42,339 --> 00:55:45,717

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: 1005

00:55:46,092 --> 00:55:49,596

Nancy Ness, Michael Terblanche, Jim Burns,

: 1006

00:55:49,888 --> 00:55:52,891

Swim school Bob, Steve Morganstern ,

: 1007

00:55:53,099 --> 00:55:56,519

Scott Nabors, Joseph, Philip Shama,

: 1008

00:55:56,811 --> 00:56:00,190

Mark Payne, Steven Martin and Jeff

Seckendorf who’ve done just that