Winning a stage with a breakaway is a bit like solving a Rubik's Cube: difficult, every piece has to be in its place, it requires application, cunning, study, and skill. The reason for this comparison is suggested by the creativity of Thomas De Gendt, a Belgian (sorry, Flemish) who will turn 34 tomorrow.A rider much loved by the public for his running philosophy (attack, always attack, which later turned out to be an almost physiological necessity), he talked about his career at Bikefellas Café of Bergamo where he presented the Italian version of his book: “Solo"(In the Wind editions, original written by Jonas Heyerick).
An emblematic title, chosen by a publishing house that has thus inaugurated a series of books in which it will celebrate heroes who do not always win at the finish line, but first in the hearts of the public, as well as the champions (next release: Julian Alaphilippe's bio).
Rubik's cube
Therefore, Rubik's Cube as an escape to victory, two of Thomas' four passions who also loves beer and PlayStation. We knew about his feeling with escapes, less about his ability with the cube., but right at the Bikefellas he proved it by solving the enigma with one of his own progressions: it was not clear what he was doing, but suddenly, here is the victory. «My record is 29 seconds – he says – but there are people who put 3-4 in there».
Pro' at 18 years old
However, the cube can have more than four faces and become almost unsolvable. Almost unsolvable, like the reading of this year's edition, where he recorded the best levels despite his age, yet he was detached from 70 riders.
"The reason? Nowadays young people become professionals at 18 years old – he explains – no longer at 22-23. They are monitored with apps that monitor how and when they train, the values they express, and that tell them when and what to eat. They are kept under pressure and this insistent demand for performance, combined with their exuberance, makes racing extremely tough. That's why I decided to evolve and dedicate myself to Caleb Ewan to be his wingman and don't think about escaping anymore."
Escape Hunter
The king of escapes who will have to reabsorb the escapes, arrived At the twilight of his career he resigns himself to the fact that at a certain point stopping is a question of survivalHe, who has already had to face a mental block experiencing a period of depression, who started again and won again: something that other colleagues were unable to do. His words make you think.
«It is easy for the careers of today's and tomorrow's riders to be shortened – he said – because If they start with this spirit, they cannot hold on for long.. I think of Aru, of Pinot, of Dumoulin, everyone for their own reason had to raise the white flag, withdraw or accept that you can no longer be a protagonist."
Foot on the ground on the Koppenberg
The exciting values of Pogacar, Roglic, Van der Poel, Van Aert impress everyone and give life to an exhilarating, spectacular cycling, where breakaways are also about winning a Tour, not just to show the sponsor to the world. But the price to pay could be high.
Saying that we should calm down would risk being the usual nostalgic speech, but The message for sporting directors, team managers, sponsors, agents is loud and clearAnd then thinking that a rider like De Gendt can admit that "my test climb is the Koppenberg, but sometimes I have to put my foot down" doesn't light that spark. in the hearts of cycling fans, who live more on suffering and defeat than on triumphs and palmares?
The greeting to Bergamo does it remembering a fellow Bergamo rider at Vacansoleil, Matteo Carrara, who led him in the 2012 Giro in the final stage up to the foot of the Stelvio, the finish line after climbing the unprecedented Mortirolo from Tovo di Sant'Agata. The feat was only half successful: De Gendt won the stage, but had to settle for third place overall., behind Hesjedal and Rodriguez.
