Thomas Huyghe Director of Cycling: “Oliver Neesen was the first name in my magazine” | Cycling manager

Nobody believes in Oliver Naesen more than Thomas Hoeig.

“I always finish last in the mini competitions because I make Oliver Naesen a great captain for me every time.”

“But Naesen was again the first name in my magazine this year. Why? When I interview him, it’s always amazing.”

“The more people drop Oliver, the more I’ll be there for him,” says Huyghe, who chose the team name “Olivier Naessens.” Because no one pronounces his name correctly.

For the rest, Huyghe doesn’t want to fall into the same trap as last year. “Then I made the mistake of not taking all my favorites.”

“Now I’ll take Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Tom Pidcock from the start.”

Notably absent is Biniam Girmay: “He was on my team last year when he was still cheap,” Huyghe pats his chest.

“But now I find it so easy to take him again. Pure loving demeanor.”

Nobody from Soudal-Quick Step secured a place on Huyghe’s team.

“I don’t believe in Julian Alaphilippe. Remco Evenepoel will come anyway when Liège-Bastogne-Liège approaches.”

Britain’s Samuel Watson is a no-brainer: “I actually wrote it down before promoting it on Koopman’s podcast. But is it really that good?”