The Belgian runner, Tom Devriendtannounced that he would end his professional career at the age of 33. Turned pro in 2014, he signed with the house a year later Intermarché-Wanty Gobert and will spend a large part of his career there. A true Flandrien, Devriendt finished 4th in Paris-Roubaix in 2022, failing to sprint to get on the podium. But after signing with Q36.5the Belgian is affected by an illness, then discovers that he has Crohn's disease and will never be able to recover from it. So much so that he considers this decision as a “liberation” near Sporza.
Video – Tom Devriendt after his 4th place in Paris-Roubaix
“For 8 months, I had to go to the toilet day and night, 10 to 12 times a day”
The Belgian runner explained the hell that Crohn's disease is when you are an athlete. “During the winter leading up to the 2023 season, I suddenly lost a huge amount of weight. My body fat percentage had dropped to 4%. It was during the Tour of Valencia. It was 17 degrees and I was cold. It's strange, because as a classics rider, I could always handle the cold. After this Tour of Valencia, I was extremely tired and I never reached my level again.” he explains.
He then experienced months of suffering without ever really being able to return to his level. “For 8 months, I had to go to the toilet day and night, 10 to 12 times a day. After the Tour of Flanders, on the team bus, I begged the staff not to select me for Paris-Roubaix. It was like my soul was destroying my body. I really couldn't do anything anymore. During training I couldn't even keep up with my friends Gerben Thijssen and Xandro Meurisse. Many drivers said it would be difficult to stop the race. But for me it really feels like a liberation.”he said.
