# Viktor Verschaeve Ready for Professional Debut at Ronde van Limburg
Viktor Verschaeve, a promising talent at Lotto Soudal, will make his professional cycling debut this year at the Ronde van Limburg. After a challenging recovery from a groin injury that delayed his first race, the 22-year-old Belgian climber is excited yet understandably nervous.
“I am really looking forward to get racing but it’s also very nerve-racking and exciting,” Verschaeve shared. He underwent surgery in December to address a constricted femoral artery, a common issue among cyclists. “The operation went smoothly, but I do feel on the bike that it is not perfect yet. I am working hard to let my muscles grow and develop again. We’ll have to wait and see how everything goes, but I’m really looking forward to the race on Monday. I want to build up confidence again. I’m not yet interested in results, I just want to evolve into the rider I want to be.”
Interestingly, it wasn’t family tradition that led Viktor to cycling; it was his brothers’ influence. “The cycling bug wasn’t in our family. At home, we were encouraged to do sports. I practiced athletics and my brothers cycled. I noticed that the atmosphere at cycling was much more pleasant, so I quickly made the switch to cycling,” he explained.
Verschaeve’s journey has been marked by camaraderie, especially with fellow cyclist Brent Van Moer. “Because Brent and I have been training together for years, the transfer to the WorldTeam went smoothly,” he stated. Even though an injury kept him from a training camp in January, his time with the Development Team helped prepare him for this next step.
With notable achievements under his belt, including a stage victory at the Giro U23 and a commendable performance at the Tour de Savoie Mont Blanc, Viktor has set his sights on a significant milestone: winning a Walloon Classic. “I would love to win a Walloon classic. It seems even better than a stage in the Giro. I have been racing on Belgian roads for years and winning a race where you know every hill and corner by heart, must be fantastic,” he concluded.
As Viktor Verschaeve stands on the brink of his professional career, the cycling community watches with keen interest, eager to see how this young talent will develop.
