 How did you get into cycling and how was your last amateur year?
Well my dad always used to cycle. He was a good amateur cyclist in Luxembourg and so we went every weekend on races and I got affected from the cycling virus aswell.
In my last year as amateur i had a few good results in 1.2 races and 2 top 5 finishes in 1.1 races, so I showed already a little bit of my potential on the road.
You have a slightly unusual career pattern, starting with cyclocross and moving to the road. How important has the cyclocross aspect of your early career been in shaping how you ride road races? Has it influenced it at all?
I think I got my explosivity from cyclocross. That's probably the reason why I am a fast finisher and love the small climbs like you find them in flanders.
In the race I can always count on my bike control which I got from my past as cyclocrosser, jumping over an island or on a boarder isn't a problem for me.
What do you do to relax/switch off from cycling?
I like to spent some time with my girlfriend and play with my dog. that's the best way for me to recharge my batteries and change a bit of ideas after some hard racing.
How long do you think it will take for you to adjust to the road? Or are you already totally adjusted to road racing?
For myself, I am not a crosser anymore, I am a road cyclist.
For sure there is still a lot to learn for me on the road because if I look now, there are boys from 22, 23 years, they have more experience than me with my 27 years.
As I came very late to the road I think I still have a nice marge of progression, there are still some things to learn and to get a better road cyclist.
So I guess my transformation to a road cyclist is not finished yet.
What is the biggest difference, when it comes to training, between cyclocross and road?
The biggest difference is of course the distance and the hours.
On the road you need to sit on your bike for 5-6 hours while for the cyclocross it is not always necessary to sit that long on your bike.
Cyclocross is a race from 1 hour going to so much pain as you can handle, while on the road the effort is much different and the race itself goes often between 4 and 5 hours.
Which terrain are you trying to focus on? Is it the cobbled stages, the more hilly ones like La Fleche Wallone, Amstel, shorter stage races TT or? You look like a rider that can achieve in sprints, cobbles and hills which is very rarely.
I prefer the flemish classics, I love these races.
If I feel cobbles under my bike, I feel comfy. But it is true, that the last few years I made a lot of progression in the climbs, so I get over climbs where mostly the real sprinters can't get over anymore and then I am able to do some good results because I am still very fast, faster than the climbers.
How do you think it's different to start a career in CX compared to the road, track or MTB? Is it easier for cyclists to get spotted and obtain cycling as a living standard or is the smaller percentage of coverage, compared to the road, a too big disadvantage?
In my eyes, you need to be one of the worlds best cyclocrossers or MTBers to really build up a nice career.
Because if you look to the results from cross races, the top 5 are almost everytime the same riders, they just change places.
While on the road, let's say as a middle class rider you still have the chance to win a race and do some good results or even follow the big engines in a super day. That is not possible in cyclocross.
What tends to be your main focus of the road season. Is it the spring one day classics, or one of the stage races in which you often have strong results?
Clearly the spring one day classics. I love these races in flanders. When I finished this years Paris-Roubaix, I was already looking forward to hit the cobbles again next year, beginning with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
How did you find the recent Tour of Luxembourg. Did you feel extra pressure by holding the race lead in your home race?
No, not at all. It was a pleasure to wear my first yellow jersey as pro in my home race. The crowd was amazing and pushed me to get over my limits and hang on on the climbs, it was a very nice experience and a day I will never forget.
In the last few years you have achieved a lot of Top 10 placings, but no victory. Does that give you extra motivation to keep working towards a win?
Of course! That's what's cycling is all about, only the first place counts.
This year I was often very close to my first victory, so I hope it will turn once in my advantage. I will fight until it works, if you are so often in the top 5, one day it will be thejackpot.
In which way does social media (eg twitter, strava) influence you? For example training and pre- & post-racing routine?
I only use twitter for my race updates. I try to keep my followers up to date about my race schedule and how it personally went in the race for myself.
Do you fancy yourself in another role in the sport of cycling after retiring from riding? And if yes where?
Actually I did not think about it yet. In my eyes I am just starting and trying to build a nice career right now and I try to focus on that and doing my best in the races. What will be in let's say 10 years if all went well, that's for in about 10 years.
Are you aware of the Pro Cycling Manager/Tour de France computer game series?
If yes, have you ever played it, and what do you think of it?
No, not at all. In my life there is more than cycling, so when I get some spare time I don't sit before the computer and play a video game about...... cycling.
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