Laurens De Plus, novice climber in El Ronde: “My winning percentage will increase from 100 to 50 percent”

In the final straight of the Tour of Flanders, Ineos Grenadiers are plagued by personnel problems. Luke Rowe and Jhonatan Narvaez are in rags after falls at Harelbeke and Wevelgem.

The super-sub comes from an unexpected source: Laurens De Plus dives into the gap and makes his debut at the Tour of Flanders on Sunday.

Tenz, isn't De Plus the luxury valet in stage racing and an Ineos subscriber in the climbing classics? Laughing and surprised at the same time. “I was really hoping for it over the winter.”

“I have already indicated to the team that I would like to participate in the Tour at some point and this is happening now due to the circumstances. So I will seize this opportunity with both hands.”

“I knew there was a chance and I heard last week at the Tour of Catalunya that Roux had dropped and was out. Then I was sure I would be at the start.”

“So it was really on my mind, although I still have to wait and see how I will be able to fit into the difficult block with Paris, Nice and Catalonia.”

“If I had been tired I would have succeeded. But it went well. And now I'm in Belgium. No, the team didn't have to convince me. It was quite the opposite.”

“It's great to be able to ride the Tour as a Flemish person,” De Plus continues. “I informed my family right away and everyone was excited.”

The climber stresses that it is not an act of attendance. “The intent isn't just to fill out the platoon. I want to try to play a role.”

“We don't really have a leader because of the absences, so we can race quite openly. There's no hierarchy and we let everything happen a little bit.”

The Tour is a 270 km race. “Then come the strong guys and hopefully I can be there myself. If you're fit, you can do something and I have a good feeling.”

On Thursday, De Plus went exploring with his colleagues for another four hours. “This renovation sure couldn't hurt. I know the roads, but the Tour route changes a little every year.”

“I've never ridden a classic Flemish bike before, so I don't know whether knowledge of the cycle is crucial or not. Maybe it's mainly the legs that do the talking.”

During practice, De Plus doesn't dribble much over the cobblestones. “I try to avoid that,” he laughs. “And because of so many courses in the Highlands, I'm rarely in the Flemish Ardennes anyway.”

Laurens De Plus also saw heavy fall at Dwars Door Vlaanderen on Wednesday.

“that it Dirty part From our sport. As often happens on Grand Tours. I broke my hip in the team time trial at the Vuelta, but that didn't stop me. No, it doesn't scare me.”

De Plus is also motivated because he has already won his only professional race on cobblestones. “At the 2019 BinckBank Tour, I finished third in the final stage for Geraardsbergen and won the final classification.”

“Well, it was the summer and the Tour was in my leg. So I'm afraid my winning percentage will drop from 100 percent to 50 percent.”

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“But I'm trying to bring some momentum to the team. It can only be better than expected. I'll be satisfied on Sunday if I enjoy it, and if the round achieves what I expected.”

“It's going to be fun. I've never experienced a presentation like this from the Flanders Classics in a Flemish race. I hear from other riders that it's a lot of fun. Although I think it's a shame that the finish isn't like that anymore in Ninov,” winks the Ninnovter about the proposition.

A week after the Tour, Paris-Roubaix is ​​already on the agenda. Also on that D plus? Can the team send an invitation again?

“I always want to race everywhere,” he said with a laugh. “I will always say yes. I would even like to fly to the Basque Country on Sunday evening, as the tour starts on Monday.”

“But I have other and bigger goals in mind. I also want to be there in July and August.”

“I always have to pace myself in my programme. But a race like the Tour is a big race. You have to respect that. It motivates you, it keeps you up at night.”