Thomas De Gendt has introduced the finish of his skilled profession after the 2024 season, although he has opened the door to persevering with at a decrease stage past subsequent 12 months.
The Lotto-Dstny veteran will goal stage wins on the Volta a Catalunya and Vuelta a España subsequent season, however has mentioned that he hopes to spend time racing in Asia at Continental stage, saying that the possibility to race there would “broaden the horizons.”
Talking to Het Nieuwsblad, the 37-year-old mentioned that he “nonetheless needs to maintain biking lots”, including that he is eager to proceed exploring off-road racing, too, having already competed in a number of gravel races lately.
“I will cease at skilled stage, nevertheless it may simply as properly be that I will proceed at Continental stage. I nonetheless need to preserve biking lots. Along with one among my greatest buddies, Willem Wauters, we need to absorb loads of off-road occasions just like the Cape Epic MTB race or gravel races within the USA,” he mentioned earlier than speaking in regards to the potential to go to Asia.
“I might additionally wish to race in Asia – Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea – purely for enjoyable and about 40 race days a 12 months. There are sufficient Continental groups who already need to contract a European rider for some stage races in Asia.
“On the Tour of Langkawi, I noticed that these small Asian groups are properly organised. My former teammate Raymond Kreder rides for the Japanese crew Ukiyo. For half of the 12 months, they go away him alone after which every so often he comes over for the Tour of Japan, Thailand, Taiwan.
“That is an expertise I need to achieve. It broadens the horizons and there is at all times a special, relaxed ambiance there. Spending two or three years like that looks like a good suggestion to me.”
He mentioned that ought to his Asian dream not work out, then he’d be open to racing at Continental or membership stage in Belgium, although he’d nonetheless be in favour of taking up a much-reduced calendar.
Previously three seasons De Gendt has raced 77, 97, and 79 days, and he mentioned that he would not have the ability to go from that to zero.
“If that does not work out then I hope for a homegrown Continental crew or membership to compete in some races with,” he mentioned. “However the intention just isn’t for me to race as an elite all 12 months spherical. However, I do not know if it is wholesome to instantly say ‘increase, bang, achieved’ in any case these years on the bike.”
De Gendt’s last season will mark his tenth with Lotto-Dstny after spells with Topsport Vlaanderen, Vacansoleil and QuickStep which noticed him win phases at Paris-Good, the Tour de Suisse, Volta a Catalunya and the Giro d’Italia, additionally ending second on the latter in 2012.
Over time, he is established himself as a breakaway specialist, and since becoming a member of Lotto he is received two phases on the Tour de France, 4 extra in Catalunya, and one apiece on the Giro and Vuelta.
He mentioned that part of his determination arose from the months spent at house through the COVID-19 pandemic, the consequence being that it has since been more durable to be away from house and his kids for lengthy durations.
He had initially deliberate to retire in 2022, however his “stage was nonetheless too good” and he discovered Lotto providing him a contract after the wins stored coming.
“I am 99% positive that it is going to be my final 12 months,” De Gendt mentioned, referring to his new determination to hold up his wheels. “If I actually really feel like I am not utterly completed, and I get to a greater stage once more… However it can positively not be a two-year contract.
“That is one huge query mark,” he added when requested about his future past racing. “I hope for some job affords. If they do not come, then I will have to search out one thing myself. I solely have sure experience in biking.
“Nonetheless, it might be that six years later, all the pieces I do know and say about racing is not related. Racing modifications lots – for instance, I lived by means of the times when high riders stored quiet till the ultimate 20km however now they begin 100km from the end.”