Thomas De Gendt made a reputation for himself throughout 16 seasons racing with ProTeam and WorldTour squads, largely with Lotto-Dstny, as a breakaway artisan. He scored stage victories in all three Grand Excursions, together with a Tour de France win atop Mont Ventoux, and completed third general on the 2012 Giro d’Italia.
After retiring final season, he adopted the trail to gravel racing like many different professionals, making his first begins for the Categorised X Rose Crew with off-road stage races Santa Vall and Sahara Gravel. Even with only a quick introduction to his new profession, the place he advised Cyclingnews “I must study every little thing once more”, De Gendt did discover some acquainted turf.
“It’s kind of like within the Classics, however you must attempt to keep within the prime 10 the entire time so you may soar within the strikes which can be taking place and that approach you do not have to dash after each nook, both, as you do additional again. In order that’s the largest lesson for subsequent time, at the least for races the place there’s loads of uphill and downhill: at all times keep on the entrance,” De Gendt mentioned in a column for Cyclingnews in February after his gravel debut at Santa Vall.
There have been no massive outcomes for De Gendt, however he went on to Sahara Gravel to complete fifth general, then took tenth at a moist and muddy The Hills Gravel and third on the primary stage of Gravel Tierra de Campos, each a part of the Gravel Earth Series.
There was no extra time for a studying curve, as subsequent up comes Unbound Gravel 200. It is not going to solely be De Gendt’s first time racing Unbound but additionally his first time racing gravel in North America.
“In any case these years on the roads, it was time for one thing new, and gravel takes you on the roads that you’ve got by no means been earlier than. Then I do climbs from a special aspect. It is the extra adventurous a part of gravel that drew me additionally to this race,” he mentioned in a digital press convention, attended by Cyclingnews, 5 days previous to Unbound.
“I hope I at the least can end it [Unbound 200]. That may be already a pleasant victory for myself. It is extra of a race in opposition to myself as a substitute of a race in opposition to others. I am not anticipating an enormous end result for myself, however you by no means know.”
Will probably be the longest race of his in depth profession to this point, each in distance and in time within the saddle. He was excited in regards to the problem and new territory.
“The longest race I believe on the street was 300 kilometres, in Milan-San Remo and it was solely six hours, 30 [minutes] or one thing, so this will likely be subsequent degree.”
With only a few days for scouting the Flint Hills area of Kansas for a primary have a look at the terrain, De Gendt reacted immediately when requested how the course differed from the handful of off-road occasions he has ridden to start out the season, notably that the “roads are a lot wider”.
“Now we have the identical form of gravel in Europe, however particularly the large roads and the lengthy straight components [in the US] makes it perhaps a bit simpler to journey in a bunch. So combating to your place just isn’t at all times that needed. The place in Europe, many of the races are determined by your place, and right here you may nonetheless make up a mistake.”
Already in his abbreviated five-event gravel profession begin, the Belgian mentioned that the techniques for gravel have been on a special degree and he didn’t plan to journey with the identical aggression as customary on the street.
“No, no. No, my degree just isn’t the identical as just like the final years,” he mentioned with a small snort in response to a query on the digital press gathering about being in a breakaway at Unbound 200. “To coach a lot tougher than I did [before] to attain that degree, I used to be simply not up for it, to have that form of dedication once more this 12 months. I anticipated it to be a bit less difficult in gravel racing. However the degree is simply tremendous excessive. And I am getting older. I am not into intervals anymore. So I do not suppose will probably be a breakaway day.”
A number of days of heavy rain have fallen in japanese Kansas within the days main as much as race weekend, leaving potholes stuffed with water and filth turning into sticky. However the solar was anticipated to return by Friday and assist dry the low-lying areas of the course.
“In Belgium, it is a actually massive race [Unbound]. It appeared like one thing enjoyable to do. Now that I am right here, it simply appears very arduous, particularly with the rain will probably be a particular form of day on Saturday, so I hope it dries up a bit bit.”
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