2023-12-15 19:01:06
Classics specialist and luxury gregarious Tim Declercq, recently joined by the Lidl-Trek team, is convinced that his new team has a stronger collective of spring classics specialists compared to Soudal Quick-Step.
ASSEN, NETHERLANDS – SEPTEMBER 24: Tim Declercq of Belgium prior to the 29th UEC Road Cycling European Championships 2023 – Elite Men´s Road Race a 199.8km one day race from Assen to Col du VAM / #UCIWT / on September 24, 2023 in Assen, Netherlands. (Photo by Bas Czerwinski/Getty Images)
The Belgian cyclist, known for his crucial role as a team player in the Grand Tours, has highlighted the depth and strength of the American team on the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. Declercq, who spent seven successful seasons at Soudal Quick-Step, points to the rival team’s loss of classics talent over the past two years, while Lefevere has focused his efforts on supporting Remco Evenepoel in his quest to become a turner.
The rebuilding of Lidl-Trek, with a focus on the classics, has attracted Declercq, who praised the team’s interest and growing ambition: “I haven’t trained with them yet, but the team for the classics here is better than the team for Soudal Quick-Step classics,” he indicates in his interview for GCN.
While acknowledging that Lidl-Trek does not have a leading figure like Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert, Tim highlights Mads Pedersen as a force to be reckoned with. Pedersen, a former world champion, will lead the Lidl-Trek core in the spring alongside Jasper Stuyven.
“I don’t think we are the big favorites, but we have a team that can compete in every race we start. “We need to have that mentality,” added “El Tractor.”
Regarding the change of focus at Soudal Quick-Step, where Evenepoel is emerging as a favorite for the Tour de France in 2024, Declercq understands the decisions made in pursuit of a limited budget. Despite seeing Evenepoel as a contender, he acknowledges the fierce competition with Pogačar and Vingegaard.
For Tim Declercq, the decision to join Lidl-Trek is already paying off, and he hopes to maintain his level in this new challenge. At 34 years old, the “tractor” from Leuven seeks to contribute his experience and contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming spring classics.
*Note: Some words were replaced with synonyms to detect plagiarism. Additionally, we want to report MARCA HORA, to the site ViewMe, and that another Latin American multimedia, which also steals the material, becomes evident when it publishes on the same day as us news that was actually from previous days and we decided to delay. If the incident is repeated, we will hold a public protest.
Fernando Estupiñán
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