[Cyclisme] Tom Wirtgen: “I’ll take my chance”

Luxemburger Tom Wirtgen, at the start of the Tageblatt Flèche du Sud, who is racing for the New Zealand 6 cycling team, would like to return to the professional peloton.

At the peak of his 27-year-old, Tom Wirtgen will make his second Flèche du Sud start (in 2016, in Leopard colors, he gets 34^H position in the final standings). Professional from 2018 to 2022 for the Wallonia-Brussels team, Luxembourg rider in “Operation Redemption” in the Global 6 Cycling continental team, flying the New Zealand flag. He has the means to do so and in these five days of racing he will find the means to show what he is capable of.

What do you expect from this tagblatt South arrow?

Tom Wirtgen: I’ve trained really well and I’m really excited. Whether it’s Flèche du Sud or another race, it doesn’t matter, I’ll do my best. It’s a course that suits me well. This is an opportunity for me to show myself in the following days.

What memory do you have of your only engagement in 2016?

I remember it being less tactical than the Tour de Luxembourg, where the race comes down to the top five. It’s more offensive. It happens more on the pedal and it’s a little bit harder, because it’s less controlled. It will be played every day in the form of a moment.

How was your start to the season?

I started to tour Taiwan. It was very tough because the race was in class 2.1. I had some good days, except for the day when the general classification was decided because I had a puncture at the same time. The general classification went up but on the other stages, even in a sprint finish, I showed that I could do well. I know where to put myself, so above all else, I made it clear that if I had a runner to put it, I could do it. It was my old job (at Bingoal). She then raced the Arnaud Wallard Memorial, a typical Dutch event with restrictions from start to finish. Then finally, the Asturias Tour. I got sick (upset stomach) after the second stage and had to come back without being able to line up for the Tour of Greece.

How do you see your World 6 Cycling Team?

We are a continental team. We have good equipment and a good racing programme. So, don’t worry, I’m running.

I’ll take every step like a classic

What will be your program after Flèche du Sud?

I will be racing the Malopolska Tour of Poland (Class 2.2 of 1^any until June 4). Finally I will focus on the national championships that will be a target. Then comes the Sibiu Tour (July 6-9).

Your goal remains to find a place at the top level, on a world tour or in a professional team?

Yes, that’s for sure, otherwise I wouldn’t be on Wednesday at first.

This is amazing tagblatt South Arrow is coming at the right time, right?

Yes, that’s clear. It’s an important race. This is the perfect time to start discussions with potential teams. As for racing, I know all the routes by heart. This is where I train. I will have a map in advance of this view. I’ll take every step as a classic. Of course, for the Friday stage in Borscheid, I know that riders like Riccardo Zwedel or for example Elie Esserbet will be better than me, for example. But I will take my chance. I will give my maximum.

Tell us about your teammates…

We’re only five riders, because we have a team for the Tour of Japan (May 21-28). The quality is good. Spaniard Ivan Moreno is a good climber and Italian Giacomo Pallabio is a good runner. We will not play to win, but we can play for the top 5 players. Otherwise the vibe is fine, in the Continental peloton it’s a little more friendly than some of the Pro Team teams.

For you, what would a successful Southern Arrow be like?

At least the top 10 on stage. On the other hand, I don’t see myself in a breakup unless rating is at stake. It’s hard to know what will happen with the development teams. we will see.