ProTeam Toon Aerts kicks off his road season in Denain
# Toon Aerts Launches Road Racing Season in Denain
Toon Aerts, the Belgian cyclist, has officially kicked off his road racing season at the challenging Denain event. Reflecting on his preparation, Aerts remarked, “Most riders say they’ve had a good winter. I can say I’ve had a strong second half of February and March.” After wrapping up his last cyclo-cross race in mid-February in Lille, he took just a brief week off the bike before diving into three weeks of training in Girona, followed by an additional week at home. “And suddenly my first race is already there. That month went by very quickly. At the same time, it feels like so many races have already passed without me. I’m ready to get started.”
Joining Lotto–Intermarché last May has significantly changed Aerts’ cycling experience. He feels like he’s stepping back into a “sweet shop” with new opportunities. “I have that same feeling again now. Last year, I got my first taste of a big team. Now it’s about my first spring, my first classics campaign.” Aerts noted that previously, he would watch races like Denain from the comfort of his couch, while now he is thrust directly into competitive action. “My calendar is now completely different. Where I could ease into it as a full-time cyclo-cross rider back then, I now need to be at my best from the very first race.”
As he prepares for the challenges ahead, Aerts expresses a mix of excitement and uncertainty regarding his performance. “It’s still difficult to predict how that will translate into racing. Physically, I might still need one or two race days. The numbers I’m pushing are very good, but you can’t train for the hectic nature of the spring races. With Denain, I immediately get a very tough one in that regard,” he shares with a laugh. Looking ahead, Aerts plans to compete in Catalunya post-Denain, aiming to build on his skills for his dreams of racing in prestigious events like the Tour of Flanders or Roubaix. “I want to do everything I can to be good enough,” he concludes.
[Picture: Cyclingmedia_agency]
