Amazing result, you'll be stoked with that
trek - I meant if I was the only one that noticed you said Southwest For me on that 2nd/3rd person thingy whatever you call it, I say "you" but for me I couldn't care less if someone says "Jonas".
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [ICL] Santos-Euskadi | [PT] Xero Racing
trekbmc - Flat tires can be helpful, sometimes Still, without it, a podium would definitely have been possible in the GC! But I'll take KoM and stage win any day!
DiCyc - Good days lately
jandal7 - Cheers! Oh yeah, the Southwest thing. Noticed it, too, but didn't think anything weird of it
Thanks all for following, commenting and voting for me at the awards for best writer
After a fantastic Tour of Langkawi, it was time for me to take a step up. The team confirmed I could ride the Tour de Suisse, a WT stage race with mountains. For me, the perfect opportunity to test my abilities against top riders.
Unfortunately, the management called me up hours ago. The wildcard didn't come through. Southeast won't be starting in Suisse, and so I won't be starting there.
For me, it's a bit of a blow, I was looking forward to it. I asked the team for other opportunities at WT level. Sebastian was a no-go, since we have way better punchers and the start list is already finished.
The Canadian Classics still have a few spots open, so I might get a chance there as a domestique. And the Tour of Poland is still a possibility, too. Let's hope the team remembers me when making the selection.
Recent Racing
In Langkawi, I felt like one of the best climbers in the world. It was a wonderful feeling, but returning to the European mainland, I was brought back to reality brutally.
My last few races were clouded in obscurity. In the Coppi e Bartali race in Italy, I worked hard for Ponzi. But then, in Giro del Trentino, I could go my own chance. In the mountains, I steadily finished around position 25 - 30. In the end, it got me a 27th place on the GC. And, honestly, I couldn't do any better.
Training
And so, I realize, I'm still a far way from home. I've made some huge steps forward in these last two years, but I have much to learn and I need to grow if I want to achieve my life long dream of riding the Tour de France.
For now, I'm in a PCT team and I feel like I belong here.
Still, let's hope I can get a chance at a WT race later this season.
Until then, I'll be training, a little harder each day.
Well. The life of a cyclist certainly isn't the easiest one, I'll tell you that. Getting contracts renewed and looking to improve your situation can be a stressful thing. And if you don't handle it right, it can near well destroy you.
Trouble in Paradise
So as the recent trend goes, contracts are already being talked about from June onwards. It's a very recent phenomenon but I didn't make up the rules. Southeast has been a good team, but I like to keep my eyes open. After all, I do this for a living, so I want to get the best contract available for me. And I don't want to live in Italy for 10 years, so Southeast has always been a temporary solution for me.
Even though I'm not the biggest talent on the block, I dream of riding for a WT team and one day finish the Tour de France. It's my biggest dream. So I have to actively pursue this.
But there's been some trouble for me. I've got good news and bad news. Starting with the bad: Italians can be a bit proud and a bit strange. When I told Southeast I'd be leaving and that I had already been discussing contracts with other teams, they really didn't appreciate it.
They made a whole fuss but they can't just fire me, and they have to put me to work. They know that. But there are things they can do. And they did...
Immediately I was taken off the provisional list for the Tour of Poland, and any other WT event for that matter. I took it hard, but on some level I dealt with it, so I requested to take part in the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, a .HC race with some climbing involved.
They refused.
Just this morning I recieved my further calendar for this season. It's mostly Italian one day races, hilly or flat. They know it''s not my forte, they know this means my season is as good as over.
Horizon
I admit, it's been a blow. Southeast and myself, we totally grew apart. It hasn't been a match. I don't have any friends here, I'm not that fond of Italy, living here. It's not the best way. And now they're trying to sabotage my career (well, sabotage is a big word but come on, what do you call it).
The only reason I can accept this is because of the good news. Talking contracts.
I had talks with Topsport Vlaanderen, Wanty Group and even Lotto - Belisol, even though that didn't lead anywhere. I had a 3000 €/month offer from Wanty and I was ready to sign.
But then, someone else stepped forward. Probably based on last season's U23 races and the Tour of Langkawi now. They must see some potential in me because I can't explain why else they would offer me a 4.500 €/month contract for 2 seasons(!!). 'They' are Giant - Alpecin.
A World Tour team, a contract for 2 years, good pay. Plenty of opportunities for me. It's a team where I'll have to work hard, work for leaders, but where I'll also work with the best riders in the world and where I'll get some chances to ride my own race. Most importantly, they are guaranteed in all three Grand Tours and perhaps that means I could ride my first Grand Tour next season.
And so I'm between ends these days. My days at Southeast are numbered and they're not making it easy for me. But I'm already concentrated on next season, joining one of the most exciting World Tour teams around.
We're slowly approaching 2017 and so another season has flown right by us. Time moves fast and I'm already going into my third season as a cyclist. I'm still making a lot of progress and now I'll be joining a WT squad, so it's safe to say things are moving fast and are going good, very good.
Like I predicted, Southeast didn't make things easy for me. I finished my schedule without complaining, though, and have made the leap to Giant - Alpecin. I haven't regretted it a second. But here's what happened for the rest of 2016
2016: The Pros
It's really unfortunate I didn't get to race the Tour of Poland. The profile included some nice stages where I could do something, or at least try to. But it is what it is, and so I didn't meet the big stars again this season.
Belgium had a great year, which makes me happy. Wellens won Liège, well deserved, and Theuns the Continental League. Add Debusschere's 5 Giro stage wins and points jersey and you've got an amazing season for Belgium.
Next year, though, I hope to contribute to that, any way possible.
World Championships - ITT
World Championships - RR
My 2016 Season
So what did I do, these last few months? Unfortunately, not much. Not exactly my kind of races, and to tell you the truth, I wasn't highly motivated to get in the break and show the team colors, either.
I talked to the coaches from Giant about these problems and they told me not to worry. They've been working with me ever since I got here and I'm extremely motivated to make the best of it, now. I think this year might be my breakthrough! Let's keep our fingers crossed.
Upcoming Season
Giant - Alpecin is a World Tour team. As you know, I'm extremely happy to have landed a contract with them. I'm set for the next 2 seasons, but that doesn't mean I can relax. On the contrary, now is the time to step up and prove I earned this contract.
The team presentation was a lot of fun. I didn't get a lot of attention, obviously, but I was mentioned shortly.
[...] our climbing depth, improved by a promising Belgian climber, Jonas Van Maldeghem. A stage win at the Tour of Langwaki last season proves he has the skills we're looking for. Like all our youngsters, he'll get the room to develop.
A World Tour team means I will get my first World Tour racing done. The team management couldn't confirm whether I'll be riding my first Grand Tour yet, though. Much will depend on the first half of my season.
On my provisional schedule are the following races:
Tour de San Luis
Vuelta a Mallorca
Vuelta a Murcia
Clasica Almeria
Classic Sud Ardèche
Paris - Nice
Handzame Classic
Volta Limburg Classic
Tour of the Basque Country
Tour of Turkey
That's it for now. This might still change but two races pop out immediately: Paris - Nice and Tour of the Basque Country.
Two World Tour races, my first. I'll be riding as a domestique but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it. And Giant - Alpecin is a team wanting to take an aggressive approach to racing, despite our sprinting strenght. I can play a role in that.
But first up is the Tour of San Luis. Let's hope I can perform well there!
For me on that 2nd/3rd person thingy whatever you call it, I say "you" but for me I couldn't care less if someone says "Jonas".
