It can no longer be considered a novelty. If his victory at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race had taken everyone by surprise, Laurence Pithie has shown in the continuation of this start of 2024 that it was not a coincidence. In his second year in the major circuit, always with the Groupama-FDJ which slowly made him climb the internal hierarchies, the twenty-one year old New Zealander is one of the most promising riders on the international scene, especially because he has the boldness of his young age on his side, which leads him to always try to emerge, a typical expression of the new cycling generation born in the wake of Pogacar's exploits.
Pithie was not at all afraid of the great commitments that awaited him and in fact At the Milan-Sanremo he remained in the thick of the race until almost the endThe same goes for the first Northern Classics, even if the Tour of Flanders ultimately relegated him to an anonymous 39th place. But the calendar immediately gave him the opportunity to redeem himself, in the temple of Roubaix.
What inspired you to take up road cycling? In New Zealand, your greatest successes came on the track…
Initially I also ran on the track, I liked it a lot. I had good results and thanks to my feedback I entered the Willebrord Wil Vooruit Juniors, a major Dutch team. My ambition was to race on the road, the track was a good inspiration. Besides I don't think it's possible to have a long and good career on both frontsIf you want to emerge in Europe, it's the path that gives you a future. If I were a track racer, I would have stayed in New Zealand. For me, Road cycling and the Tour de France are the ultimate expression of what I do. That's what really inspired me to be a professional. The track was a great experience.
How were the first few months at Groupama? Were they difficult for you, coming from a different world?
Yes, I can't deny it. Coming from the other side of the world was great, but also complicated, for me and Reuben (Thompson, editor's note). Confronting not only the competitions, but also the culture and the environment, a different language, especially for me, as I had a few crashes at the beginning of 2023 that made everything more difficult. But the team has been very supportive, helping me integrate. French culture and living in Europe, far from home, are things I've gradually gotten used to. I remember that the first month I felt like I was under a steamroller, with a lot of ups and downs in mood, but it's part of the past.
You're a very fast rider, but we've often seen you try to break away. Do you have confidence in your sprinting skills?
Yes, of course. I know I have good skills for the ending, but I don't like to wait, I prefer to build the race when I can, staying ahead even well before the final stagesI say that if you're always in front, you usually race for the win, while if you wait for a sprint and let others do everything, you might see everything go up in smoke and miss opportunities. Then you might get caught, like in the Cadel Evans Ocean Race, but there were only a few of us and I could still have raced for the win. Maybe if I hadn't tried...
You've already raced in the Belgian Classics. Are you starting to gain experience to achieve better results?
These are roads and paths where, in order to emerge, you have to learn more and more. It's true that for every race we travel many of the same roads, but each time it's different, the race is different.Some races are new to me, especially the big ones. So I'm learning with every race and improving.
At Ghent-Wevelgem did you think the breakaway could arrive?
Yes, it reflects what I was saying before. I had to try, I had to be there if I wanted to have any hope. When Van Der Poel and Pedersen They pushed, I was there, I could have fought with them, but I still don't have the legs to do it, the right experience. I could have waited at the back, but what would I have gained from that? I tried to use my teammates to build a result, and when they do, I'll be there for them. But no one can deny that I had the chance to win the race..
Were you surprised by your results in Australia?
A little bit, it was the reward for my hard, hard work in our summer in New Zealand.I went to Australia, immediately facing the highest level, I saw that I was going strong and I wanted to make it happen. I knew I had worked hard.
Given the results, are you hoping to be called up for the Olympic Games and what do you think of the Paris route, does it suit you?
I admit, I'm thinking about it. I think I've shown in recent months that I'll be competitive and fight for a great result. I studied the route, there are many points where I can attack, where I can really play my cards. So yes, I hope to go and it's always been a dream to compete or do the Olympics, even before I was a cyclist to compete in any sport.
In the future, do you think you could compete in the stage race classification as well?
No, not for the general classification for sure. I would like to do the big stage races and race for stage victories and also for some jerseys, but I will never be a ranking man, it's not in my nature.
Is there a rider who inspires you?
Not particularly. I can say there are many guys I admire for their running style and their ability, but I wouldn't say there's anyone who got me to where I am.
What is the race you would most like to win?
This one is easy: the world championships… Being able to wear the rainbow jersey for a year is, I think, the pinnacle of cycling, something that lasts forever.
