28 June, 2024
All ready for the Tour
It’s an early summer Sunday, it’s been raining in the morning and, even though it’s already noon, the sun hasn’t fully come out from behind the clouds. The humidity, far from cooling down the air, feels heavy like a blanket, leaving little desire to move.
It’s the summer of 2010 and it’s the 100th anniversary of the Tour’s first pass over Tourmalet. Arnaud, Cedric, Jarrad, Sébastien and Harm are barely ten years old, but they don’t miss a single detail on TV from the couch at home. They don’t remember the first time they rode a bike, but as long as they can remember, they’ve known that one day they will be one of those cyclists.
It’s June 2024, with just two days to go before everything starts, and the Lotto Dstny team is already in Florence. Around a table, everyone shares memories; everyone has a story about those long afternoons in front of the TV, dreaming of being where they are now. For some, it will be their first Tour, and Victor tells them about his first time. He feels a certain older brother’s pride seeing the eagerness to race on their faces.
Five of the eight riders the team has chosen to race in France are making their debut in the grand tour, and half of the eight come from the Lotto Development team. There is nothing more exciting for us at Orbea; we are as proud as Campenaerts. With Lotto Dstny, we share our values, our roots. It’s in our DNA to support the young, to train future cyclists and to nurture future talent.
It’s hard to suppress emotions when we think of Arnaud and his impressive victory just a few days ago at the nationals. We think of how special it must be to race your first Tour de France wearing the colors of the Belgian flag and riding your own custom-made Orbea, for you to proudly show off during an entire year’s reign.
The last few weeks have been hectic: races, training, extra hours and direct contact with coaches, trainers and nutritionists. Everything has to be carefully calculated and there is little room for improvisation. Behind the scenes, a ballet of mechanics, soigneurs, directors and other team staff is synchronized so that nothing fails in the premiere.
Last month has been intense: a training camp in Sierra Nevada, tests in the velodrome in Zolder, Dauphiné and the Tour de Suisse have left body and mind ready for the big test. Some last hours with family, friends, partners and pets and, finally, what seemed so distant from the couch at home, is almost becoming a reality.
At Orbea, we know what it’s like to race the Tour and we know what it’s like to win. We have supported many teams over the years. Some of us have travelled with our riders all throughout France, others have sat down at the table, eating with our bibs still on, dreaming of living the experience one day.
That’s why we feel so close to Brent, Harm and Cedric today. That’s why we feel so close to Campie, ’cause we have also told the young ones that they will never forget what they are about to live.
You are never fully prepared for the Tour, but in our case, we just can’t wait.
