With the time trial in Madrid, not only does the curtain fall on the Vuelta, the career of Thomas De Gendt (37) is also (almost) over after this final day. Renaat Schotte and José De Cauwer reflect on the legacy of the breakaway king in the peloton.
Normally, the Vuelta is followed by an Italian dessert buffet, but with a quirky rider like Thomas De Gendt, you never know. One thing is certain: today’s final time trial of the Vuelta is De Gendt’s last day in a grand tour.
“What will I remember from his career? First of all, the emotions we experienced together during his victory on the Stelvio,” José De Cauwer mused to Renaat Schotte.
“That was still in his early years, right? You wondered then whether something like that was possible. We were not yet living in the period like now, where as a Belgian you win almost every day in a grand tour, including mountain stages.”
De Cauwer has known De Gendt since his youth. “He is from Waasland. He was even a goalkeeper at Kemzeke!”
“I still remember a novice race in our area. It was a race with 2 viaducts over the E17. Thomas rode away at the start and just stayed ahead of the pack. Even then.”
Thomas De Gendt was an atypical rider. I won’t say he was contrary, but he survived many wars.
Jose De Cauwer
It was De Gendt’s trademark: attacking and only seeing the peloton after the finish. “He has made his mark: doing a De Gendtje. Not many riders can do that.”
“He joined breakaways and finished them off. Also on remarkable days: think of the stage to the Ventoux.”
“He was an atypical rider. I wouldn’t say he was contrary, but above all he survived many wars.”
“He comes from somewhat old cycling, when riders still ate meat,” our commentator winks. “And then he tried to adapt to modern cycling.”
“He also had a sensible view of cycling and did things you wouldn’t have thought possible. That’s his mark I’m referring to.”
Don’t forget
In recent years, Thomas De Gendt’s stunts have been a bit lacking. “If he wanted to do a trick like that again, he would have to drive even faster than he used to.”
“And the peloton knows him. They keep their legs still. Because all the team leaders say: “Watch out, he’ll ride you off.”
“Few riders will stay with us like De Gendt,” De Cauwer concludes. “You can forget a lot of riders, but De Gendt? No, not him.”
“You shouldn’t have 20 riders like Thomas in your team. But one such person is worth gold.”
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