Using the Presidential Tour of Turkey for the primary time on the age of 37, Alexander Kristoff rapidly swallowed his disappointment of not sprinting for the victory on the finish of stage 2 by watching the dwell stream of the Tour de Bretagne, a race he took half in from 2007 to 2009.
“It was good to see my little brother take the win”, the Norwegian stated. “It regarded like a hard-fought victory. The Tudor man [Jackson Medway] was away and in some way he managed to return again.”
Felix Ørn-Kristoff, 19, is the present European champion for highway racing within the under-19 class and leads the Tour de Bretagne with two phases to go. “He is an all-rounder”, his elder brother said. “He is acquired a great dash however he is not a pure sprinter, he is possibly extra of a puncher. He is robust, so I imagine that sooner or later the classics will swimsuit him. He is a bit much less of a sprinter than me and a bit extra of a rider for the classics, extra highly effective for attacking, time trialling and stuff like this.”
“I strive to not educate him an excessive amount of but as a result of I nonetheless experience however I will educate him extra subsequent yr after I cease. If I educate him an excessive amount of already, he’ll beat me! I had six high threes however by no means gained a stage within the Tour de Bretagne and he already did.”
The younger Felix rides for Wanty-Nippo-ReUz, the feeder staff of Intermarché-Wanty, with whom Alexander rode in 2022 earlier than heading again dwelling to finish his profession with Uno X-Mobility. Felix is contracted with the Belgian WorldTour staff for 2026 and 2027. “More durable races are nonetheless to return for him”, Kristoff stated.
A query for 2025 was who can be the following rider to succeed in 100 professional wins? Kristoff, already a stage winner at Vuelta a Andalucia in February, is at the moment at 97, as is Arnaud Démare who’s but to open his account for this season, they usually’re intently adopted by Tadej Pogacar, who has 95.
“I hoped to get one right here in Turkey already”, Kristoff stated, “however the first two days did not go as I hoped. On stage 1, I acquired caught behind a crash on the final nook whereas I used to be in a very good place within the high 5. On stage 2, the climbs had been more durable than I anticipated, the tempo was very excessive and it was above my degree. Phases 5, 7 and eight ought to be bunch sprints.
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“It is a bit of an obsession to succeed in 100,” he added. “I really need it but when I do not get it this yr, I cannot proceed my profession. I will go until the tip of the yr even when I attain 100 earlier than. I’ve educated lots for this season so I cannot cease like that within the center for no motive, however possibly I cannot win anymore. It isn’t but determined which one will likely be my final race, presumably the Singapore criterium, however I would have to go to Le Tour de Langkawi (28 September-5 October) if I am nonetheless chasing extra wins.”
And what after twenty years {of professional} biking that embody victories at Milan-San Remo (2014), Tour of Flanders (2015) Gent-Wevelgem (2019) and the yellow jersey for in the future on the Tour de France along with 4 stage wins?
“I will take a while off for positive. I will not do a lot subsequent yr. I do not need to rush something. I’ve 4 children so there’s nonetheless sufficient to do. I cannot be bored sooner or later. Perhaps there will be some prospects to remain within the sport, I cannot make any hasty selections within the first yr.” And there will likely be Felix to take care of…
