In 20125, Tim Wellens will do the Tour de France for the first time. The GC doesn't interest him yet but he hopes to already be in contention for a stage victory. The stage with finish on the Mur de Huy is already in his head.
Tim Wellens didn't have a good spring season. After a strong season start, the spring classics were a bit disappointing.
"I had actually expected it to go a little better. After my fourth place in Lombardy last fall, I thought I could do something similar in the spring classics. But it did not go quite as expected."
Next year he will have another preparation for the classics. "An altitude training camp for one-day races turned out not to be so useful."
But does the Young Wellens not put the bar too high? He refuses that suggestion. "After my performance last year the outside world expects more of me and I do so myself too.
The classics were important, but the main goal of the season is undoubtedly the Tour de France. The young Limburger is not focused on the GC but he will go all out in an attempt to win stage.
"It's hard enough to get a stage win. First you have to be in the good break, and then you must be the best there. Last year I was close in the Giro twice. Hopefully I will succeed this year in the Tour.
The Tour will again pass through Belgium and in those stages Wellens wants to show himself.
"I was good in Fleche Wallonne, so the stage with finish at Mur de Huy certainly appeals to me. I want to be in the mix for the win."
In addition to Tim Wellens, Lotto Soudal has a chance for a stage victory with German sprinter André Greipel . The team is certainly not built around Wellens.
"I think that would be completely unnecessary. Greipel has a much better chance to win a stage, and to get in a breakaway I don't need any help from the team."
20.05: GP Mazda SCHELKENS |
20.05: Paris - Troyes |
20.05: Ronde van Limburg |
12.05 - 21.05: Tour d'Algérie |
22.05: GP de la Ville d'Annaba |
20.05 - 24.05: Cycling Tour of Albania |
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23.05 - 25.05: Tour of Estonia |
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25.05: ZLM Omloop der Kempen |
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