After riding to Spain through 47-degree heat, De Gendt turns to Pologne for Vuelta build-up

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Dstny)
Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Dstny) (Image credit: Getty Images)

Whatever happens between now and the end of October, it’ll have been a memorably different season for Thomas De Gendt. Barring surprises, the Lotto-Dstny rider will have had just one Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España, on his schedule, with racing the Tour de France substituted by a 10-day ride to Spain from Belgium - with some sizzlingly hot temperatures en route, too.

Now back in racing at the Tour de Pologne, De Gendt last rode a single Grand Tour in a season in 2014 when he did the Giro d’Italia - which this year Lotto-Dstny did not race. Then he opted out of the Tour de France, telling his team he was “not ready.”

Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The IndependentThe GuardianProCycling, The Express and Reuters.