A life on the run. And yet, even Thomas De Gendt had to stop at a certain point in his career and ask for help to defeat an opponent too strong even for him: depression. From the Spanish retreat in Javea with his companions, the thirty-four year old Belgian Lotto Soudal he told us how he defeated it and what escapes is he preparing? in a 2021 that will see him at the starting line of all three Grand Tours.
Thomas, how's the gathering going?
The weather here in Spain is fantastic, so we can do many hours of trainingIt's definitely better than the weather in Belgium, where it snows and is cold at this time of year.
A few days ago, you posted a photo of a rock in the middle of the ocean on Twitter, along with a thought about depression. Can you explain this profound choice?
It came out two months ago my book, “Solo”, in which I also talked about the depression I had between 2017 and 2018. Knowing that I would receive many questions on the topic during this period, I thought I'd express my point of viewI'm not a celebrity, but the fact that I'm well known in the cycling world gives me the opportunity to be useful and help people that are fighting us right now. Talking about it is good to understand that It's a common problem And it can also affect people who think they're happy or successful, as happened to me. I'm happy to have received so many responses on the topic from my followers.
How did the escape man manage not to follow his nature and face the problem head on?
Depression is grew inside me without me realizing itOne of my personality problems is that I overthink certain things and give in to negative thoughts. The situation got worse until I had marital problems. At that point, the only way I could avoid doing stupid things was to train more than usual, only to feel a little extra pain in my legs. If my legs were hurting, maybe my mind would be more at peace.It was 2017, during a three-week retreat in Spain.
Then, what happened?
I won at the first opportunity, the first stage of the Dauphiné. I seemed happy, but inside I was suffering from what I was going through. Little by little, the situation improved because I started talking about it with my wife and after four or five months I started to feel better and get out of it. In the spring of 2018 I was happy again and I started enjoying all the little things again that I had missed for a year.
And you're back to being the king of escapes: what does it feel like when you're alone against everyone?
It's the only way I know to winI have to break away with 9 or 10 riders and then compete with them instead of the whole group. Once I find the right one, I start to study the escape companionsSometimes it happens that there is someone I don't know, so I have to bring them out in the open, to understand how to wear them down. You have to try as many times as possible to learn how to win and, once it happens, it's all experience for subsequent escapes.
What is your goal for 2021?
I want to win a race, since I didn't manage it in 2020. I hope the calendar doesn't change, but last year we have shown that racing can be done without any major problems. The doubts I expressed at the Giro were due to the fact that I didn't feel comfortable at that moment. However, compared to the other major Tours, we were tested twice as often as the Tour and had very few positive casesThey said there was no contagion at the Vuelta, but at the end of the race a lot of riders and team staff members got sick, even if the media didn't report it. Thinking back now, the Giro was the safest environment.
Have you already decided which races you will bet on?
The Giro is definitely in my plans and I'm curious to discover the routeI would like to win another stage, like I did in 2012. Then, I would like to wear the best climber's jersey, because that way I would be able to equal my teammate Tim Wellens, the only Belgian capable of wearing the symbol of primacy in all three major Tours. I will also race the Tour and the Vuelta and I believe that my season will end in Madrid, subject to changes.
Do you miss fighting for the overall?
No, because there is too much pressure. You're obsessed with your ideal weight, you can't afford even a bad day and you have to fight at every stage: it's unnerving.
What do you like to do on the few days you don't cycle?
Playing PlayStation online and chat with my friends I've known for 15 years, usually on Grand Thief Auto V, so I have to escape there too. Here's my typical day when I'm not pedaling: I wake up at 8, have breakfast, play until lunch, then play again, then dinner, then go on until 3 a.m. My wife isn't very happy, but I need days like that to completely disconnect from cycling and recharge myself."
