LIEGE (Belgium) – It's quite a shock to see Alexey Lutsenko wearing a jersey other than that of Astana Qazaqstan Team. He was truly one with the team. It was his family, his nest.
Lutsenko was the natural heir of Alexandre Vinokourov, the strongest Kazakh athlete of all time. The Olympics, Liège, the stages of the Tour: Lutsenko, even if that list of achievements was not his, had somehow found himself inheriting it.
Now here he is with the shirt of the Israel Premier Tech. At 32, he's chosen a new challenge, and all things considered, this "contest" seems to have started off on the right foot. He seemed calm, brilliant... and not just in the running.
«I'm looking for new stimuli after a long time, I feel that I can give and grow further in a new team", Lutsenko had said when his arrival at Israel-Premier Tech was announced. The campaign of Ardennes It was a good opportunity to meet him and he, with his kindness and his excellent Italian, told us…
Alex, how are you?
Well, in Belgium for the first time with the new team. The condition is good at this time. I struggled a bit in Brabant, but I came from the high altitude and hope to be better for the next races. Every day I feel like I'm growing a little. The Ardennes races, and not only, are important for us.
It's shocking to see you without the Astana jersey. It's a new beginning for you. How was it finding yourself with a new staff? New riders? New directors?
True, I was in Astana for 12 years And even before that, somehow, there was that team for a young Kazakh like me. So I spent my entire career there, and it was the only team for me. I admit it's quite an experience what I'm going through. The first month was tough, I was a little nervous, especially at the first camp.
Why?
Because everything was new. Everything was suddenly different, not just the staff and teammates, but also the clothing, materials, bikes... But already now I'm telling you the truth, I'm very happy, I've gotten used to it. Everyone is friendly and the atmosphere is good.
At Astana, you were the leader and had a lot of pressure. Maybe here at Israel, things are a little different. Or at least, there's a different kind of pressure for you. Is that true?
Yes, but I see that the team trusts me. Even in Liège, I could have run my own race, been the leader. It's true that I feel a little less pressure, but I think it's because the team in general has less because we're not in a bad position with the points. Everything's a bit more relaxed. Next year we'll be almost 100 percent in the WorldTour. And then the way they work is also a little different. They prefer not to put pressure on the athlete, and perhaps without pressure the rider achieves the result.
Earlier, Andrey, you talked about the move to Israel, a new team… What was the hardest thing to learn?
Everything was different, even the language. Like when a child changes schools... I used to go to the one near my house and suddenly everything was different. Maybe for a rider who had already changed teams 3-4 times in his career it would have been a normal thing, but I started in Astana when I was young. Different approach, different ways of doing things…
But it's also a stimulus, right?
Yes, yes: I like it. And I'm enjoying it.
Who helped you fit in the most? If there was anyone… Let's think about… Jakob Fuglsang, who spent several years with you in Astana…
No, there wasn't anyone in particular, everyone really welcomed me. Then, yes, Jakob is a rider I know very well. But he wasn't the only one, you know. There's also a mechanic, a masseur I knew. We're really "very good friends"...
What is your seasonal schedule?
After these Ardennes I'll take a break for a few days. Then I'll start a long camp in Andorra to prepare for the Tour de France. First I'll also do the Dauphiné.
And what can you tell us about your teammates who are aiming for the Giro d'Italia? They did well at the Tour of the Alps...
Really good. And Derek Gee is great. We did the last training camp together in Tenerife, and I saw a truly great professional. I've seen how he's been preparing since December. He seems ready. The team has high hopes for him. The goal is to finish top five at the Giro, but a podium finish isn't impossible either.
