“I have the feeling that it is better to start relaxed somewhere”

“This is mainly due to my accidents,” he starts honestly. “I want to get the feeling in the peloton and have a good race. If you are in Ghent in Kuipke, you know that it won't be like that. You have to go on these cobblestone sections and climb with a knife between your teeth.

In Van Baarle's absence on the opening weekend, Team Visma | Leasing a bike could not win any victories. Van Baarle is not sure that he is there that he would have made a big difference. “I think it is only natural that we have the ambition to win all of these races. If I had gone to the opening weekend, I would not have known how I had driven there,” he analyzes. “It could have gone well, which would let you go home with a good feeling. But you can also get in your way for two days because you don't feel comfortable in the peloton. Then you go to the next race with a shitty feeling.”

“During an opening weekend, everyone is at the beginning with a 100 % motivation,” concludes van Baarle. “France has no cobblestones, and being at the front is a little less chaotic. There is less pressure and it is near home, so I'm going there by car.”