The conclusion of the Tour of Denmark won by Arnaud De Lie He brought back an old acquaintance of Italian cycling (although calling a 23-year-old rider "old" sounds a bit contradictory...). Let's talk about Anders Folder, the Danish rider who joined the team this year Jayco AlUla after having done his apprenticeship in our area, precisely in Biesse Carrera.
Foldager took third place in the final standings, in a high-level race featuring many WorldTour teams. On this occasion, however, the rider from Skive was not wearing the Australian team jersey, but that of the national team, which gives greater prominence to his performance.
For Foldager, this is a fitting reward for a first season in major cycling, which he has experienced with some difficulties but has always been a protagonist: «The year has been positive so far – says Anders as he heads to France for the Bretagne Classic on Sunday – I had some problems at the beginning of the season and a lot of illnesses that slowed me down. But since May it's been positive.».
Compared to last year, have the difficulties increased? Is the calendar of a higher level?
Yes, of course. I only do professional races in the WorldTour or just below, so maybe the biggest race last year is the smallest for me this year. So it's always difficult, but at the same time it's increasingly intriguing and I notice that I'm getting better and better.
Tell us about your Tour of Denmark, how did you manage to reach the podium?
First of all, we had the team time trial, where we finished fourth. It was a good start if we wanted to aim for the overall standings. The next stage was already decisive for the final outcome and I did more than well, finishing fourth again not far from Magnus Cort and Arnaud De Lie, who had already made the difference. From there, it was just a series of sprints where I had to stay with the team, defending the podium.
You were racing with the national team against WorldTour teams that compete together year-round. Was that a disadvantage for you?
Maybe a little. Especially since we lost two riders, Mathias. Nordsgaard and former U23 time trial world champion Johan Price-Pejtersen already at the second stage. So I was the only WT rider on the team, but I had good support from the other guys. It's hard when you don't run together every day., we definitely had less cohesion than the other teams because we didn't know each other very well, which is why the final result has greater value and I share it with all my teammates.
You were already fourth in the Tour of Slovakia: are you becoming more suited to stage races?
I don't know, maybe. I think short stage races without big mountains and without city circuits are good for me., but I'm still a better stage chaser and in one-day races. My characteristics haven't changed.
What did you take away from your experience in Italy?
Now I can say with certainty that the great Under 23 calendar in Italy has given me a lot of experiences and opportunities to emerge in the finals And then, of course, the team helped me grow. I deeply appreciate my time in Italy, which truly shaped me into the rider I am today. Not just technically, but also mentally, to be a professional.
How important is it for the evolution of Danish cycling to have a champion like Vingegaard as a role model?
It's essential for young cyclists to have big stars. They can be admired like idols. The idea is that if he could do it, then we can do it too.Thanks to Tomas's exploits, cycling in my country grew enormously last year, and you could see it in the number of people who showed up at my home Tour, on the Danish roads. Now cycling is really very popular, among the most widespread.
Now what are your goals between now and the end of the season?
After Plouay I will continue with one-day races, maybe Hamburg, maybe some races in Italy, but the program is not yet well defined. My goal is to stay fit and help the guys when I have to and if I have to, but still try to get my chance, sometimes.Maybe to try for another victory this year.
You already have a contract for next year: are you hoping to be selected for a Grand Tour?
For next year, I really hope so. I think it would be nice to do a Grand Tour, but I haven't thought about next season yet, and we will. We'll definitely make a plan with the team and my coach. To choose the one that best suits my possibilities, between Italy, France or Spain I have no preference. Even though it might be really nice to run the Giro personally…
