ProTeam Arjen Livyns, in good form, looks ahead to Gent-Wevelgem: “Positioning is key”
17th in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 42nd in Strade Bianche- after a heavy crash-, 13th in Nokere, 25th in Milan-Sanremo. Arjen Livyns (30) hardly makes any mistakes: wherever he starts, he is there, riding himself into the spotlight, and consistently performing well. It’s a busy time for Livyns, as after E3 Harelbeke, he also has Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, and tomorrow, Gent-Wevelgem on his schedule. He scouted the latter earlier this week. “The key to Gent-Wevelgem is the same as for almost every Flemish race: positioning is key,” Livyns looks ahead. “For Sunday, first, it’s towards the Moeren, then after the Moeren, the hill zone starts, and around the Kemmelberg, then the finish is already near. If the peloton continues with the same momentum as in the past weeks, the race will be hard. It will be up to us to take Arnaud (De Lie) as far as possible into the hill zone.”
Arjen Livyns knows what he’s supposed to do on Sunday. “After the last time over Kemmel, it goes really fast, but everything is already stretched out before that. It’s a matter of being in position – that’s up to Alec Segaert, Brent Van Moer, and myself. If Arnaud is still in a good position, we can go all in with our card. If the circumstances are different, my role will be freer. By the way, I don’t think the plugstreets, which are characteristic of Gent-Wevelgem, will play a crucial role. I scouted the three sections earlier this week, and they are in relatively good condition. The road surface of the second section is worse, so there, it’s mainly about hoping to get through without any issues.”
Livyns is in great form – “Maybe my best shape ever,” he said at the start of E3 Harelbeke yesterday – and it’s not going unnoticed. He doesn’t have just one explanation. “It’s a combination of factors,” he explains. “The past two years with the team, I haven’t ridden many finales because I was often working for others. Due to circumstances, we, the second-line riders, have now moved up a bit. I can show myself more. The Vuelta last August, my first Grand Tour, also made me mentally stronger. Moreover, I had a good winter, and I was able to do a solid altitude camp in Tenerife. Above all, I’ve been able to stay healthy this spring, unlike many others, unfortunately. Mentally, everything is in the right place, and the results are following. It feels good.”
Picture: Brecht Steenhouwer
