“I am new in the team. It has already been a special, very short season and now I will be riding among all those big names,” says 24-year-old Steff Cras, who was recently selected to represent Lotto Soudal in the Tour de France.
The announcement of the team selection came earlier than expected, with General Manager John Lelangue explaining, “Why wait any longer? All our riders will be ready to start the competition. There is no point in keeping everybody in the dark about the program. On the contrary, it gives everybody peace of mind.”
Cras, who spent the last two seasons as a member of Katusha-Alpecin, expressed his surprise and gratitude at being chosen for the Tour de France team, saying, “It’s nice that the team gives me the confidence even though I have hardly raced for Lotto Soudal in 2020. The team was looking for a cyclist of my profile for the eight place in the team. Someone who can help during the flat part and who can also stay with Caleb Ewan during the mountain stages. Caleb is our absolute priority in the Tour. During the first mountain stages I will not leave his side and maybe I will be able to save some energy which might be useful during the transition stages.”
Cras, who is known for his climbing abilities, spoke highly of his teammate Caleb Ewan, stating, “Caleb is a true leader. You understand immediately what he wants. I am already counting the days until the start of the Tour. This is really a dream come true.”
Despite the unusual circumstances of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cras remains confident in his preparation for the race, saying, “Every percent helps. My condition will certainly be good to start the Tour. I am not worried about that and I have no stress either. This is really a dream come true.”
The Tour de France, originally scheduled for July, will now take place from August 29 to September 20.
