# The Ascent of Jarne Van de Paar: “I Want to Be More Than a Sprinter”
This season, Jarne Van de Paar transitioned from the Lotto Dstny Development team to the ProTeam, almost immediately making an impact with a third-place finish at the Trofeo Palma and notable performances in the Tour du Loir et Cher. “I am happy with my results from the last months,” he shared, “but I hope to show myself some more in the next couple of weeks.”
Van de Paar’s passion for cycling runs in the family; his father was a professional mountain biker. He joined the Lotto Dstny Development team at 18, and as he reflects on his journey, he states, “Four years later, I am still part of the Lotto Dstny family. It’s a beautiful story. I am finding my way in the professional peloton with the help of people I have known for years.”
Looking back, Van de Paar acknowledges the transformation he’s undergone during his time with Lotto Dstny. “I am a completely different Jarne than the boy who walked in here four years ago. Thanks to the sports directors, especially Kurt Van de Wouwer, I was able to develop as a cyclist. They taught me a lot about race strategy and professional attitude,” he remarked.
His sister, Ines, who has been riding for the Lotto Dstny Ladies since 2022, serves as a source of inspiration for him. “I really look up to Ines. She manages to combine the sport with her studies, something I would not be able to do. I can see that she enjoys herself on the bike,” he noted. Despite living in Spain, they cherish their time together on the bike when he’s in Belgium.
Despite facing challenges due to a spider bite that sidelined him from several races, Van de Paar rebounded strongly at the Tour du Loir et Cher, claiming a stage win, a second overall place, and the points jersey. “It was a hectic stage race, but thanks to the hard work from the team, I was in perfect position for the sprint twice. I feel that my form is good, and I’m really looking forward to the coming weeks,” he said, expressing eagerness to shine further.
The season’s start was promising with a podium finish at the Trofeo Palma in January. “My goal was to show myself at the beginning of the season,” Van de Paar explained. “I really hit my peak then, taking a podium spot in the Challenge Mallorca, behind Ethan Vernon and Biniam Girmay. It was the first time I competed with the pros, and the team gave me the confidence to prove myself in the sprint. And with success. I was very proud of that.”
While Van de Paar acknowledges that his sprint is one of his greatest strengths, he has broader ambitions. “But I want to develop in other areas too. I want to be more than just a sprinter and eventually show myself in the spring classics. Paris-Roubaix is the most beautiful race of them all, one big party. That’s what I want to work towards in the coming years,” he concluded.
Photos: Photonews, Céline LAZENNEC, Photographie ArClem
