Thomas De Gendt winning Stage 7 of Paris-Nice after an impressive solo effort. |
Thomas, first of all, congratulation
on your marriage and your amazing performance in Giro d’Italia. Now when it’s
been some months, have you realized what you actually did back in May?
I haven’t really thought about it. I got a lot of attention from the
media and from the other riders and of course a lot of attention from the
people in Belgium. I can see in the way that I’m not being allowed to attack
much anymore. I tried to attack really hard in Eneco Tour, but even though I
was way down in the general classification I was never allowed more than a 100
meters gap. I guess that is the impact of what I did in the Giro.
I know you had been working hard to
peak in the Giro this year, but since you never really had been going for the
GC in a Grand Tour before it was more like a trial-run for the Vuelta. Do you
think you can make another podium in Spain?
I don’t really aim for the GC now. It’s true that I went to the Giro to
use it as a trial-run for the Vuelta, but since I was up there in the GC I had to
dig deep in the last week. So even though I had the Vuelta as my goal I’ve actually
already got my podium spot this year and that cost me a lot of energy.
Therefore I don’t know if I will be able to go hard in another Grand Tour this
year already. And to be honest, I don’t feel as good right now as I did just
before the Giro.
Like Contador you used Eneco Tour as
warm-up for the Vuelta. Are you satisfied with the answers you got?
Not at all. The first days were very difficult for me and even though I
got stronger during the race I never really felt good. I decided not to finish
the race in order to save some energy for the Belgian National Time Trial, but
that didn’t went the way I wanted it either. I didn’t feel I had any power in
my legs and I’m really disappointed with my performance.
Looking at the route for the Vuelta,
what do you think about it? Does it suit you?
I haven’t really checked out any stages, but I know there are some uphill
finishes already in the first week. Personally I’m happy that the stages are
shorter than in the other Grand Tours. Short but hard, just like I want it.
Still, I will just take it day by day and make a status after the first week. As
I said the GC isn’t really a goal for me from the beginning so I won’t cry if
I’ve already lost a couple of minutes after the first stages.
Alberto Contador is the big favorite
for the overall win. Do you think anyone can beat him without any bad luck?
I think we can already name the winner. Contador will win this Vuelta,
but I think Froome will be up there too. He might be tired after the Tour, but
I expect him to be in the mix. The last guy I see for the podium is Rodriguez.
I don’t really think there will be any other riders able to follow these three.
What do you think about the
Vacansoleil-DCM team for the race. Anyone specific we should keep an
extra eye on?
I think Pim Ligthart. He has a very good sprint after a hard stage and
there should be a lot of stages that suits him well in this Vuelta.
Last one. What is most important for
you in this Vuelta; a stage win or Top10
in the GC?
I would say a stage win, but then again it depends on place in the
Top10. There is a big difference in being number 4 or being number 9 for
example. If a Top10 spot means being 2nd, 3rd or 4th
I would pick that over winning a stage, but compared to ending 10th
overall I would take the stage win right away.
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