Segaert on the longlist for the Tour and preparing for cobbled classics in Tenerife

Last year was a breakthrough season for Segaert. He celebrated his first major victory with a stage win in the Renewi Tour, a result that even surprised himself. "A first victory in the WorldTour, I didn’t see that coming. For the first time, I was able to compete at that level, and I could have even won the overall classification," he reflects with satisfaction. "It gave me a lot of confidence heading into next year," he told Sporza.

This spring, the 20-year-old aims to play a bigger role in the classics, where he was unable to stand out this year. With the departure of key riders like Victor Campenaerts and Florian Vermeersch, Segaert will have more opportunities to chase his own chances. "I’ll have a different role. I’ll be allowed to save more energy for the finals. Together with Arnaud (De Lie, ed.) and Jenno (Berckmoes, ed.), we still have a very strong team with different chances and tactics to win races."

The Belgian classics are a big target for Segaert in 2025. He sees the most potential in Paris-Roubaix, which he hopes will be a highlight of his season. Ever since he was a junior, he has had a passion for cobblestones. He finished second in his first participation in Paris-Roubaix during the muddy 2021 edition. "This year, I also had a positive experience in the elite race. I was in the first group but had three breakdowns starting from the Forest of Wallers. In Paris-Roubaix, everything really needs to go your way."

In order to prepare optimally, Segaert will soon head to Tenerife for a high-altitude training camp. After the classics, a grand tour may be on the horizon. "I’m on the longlist for the Tour. There’s a time trial in the first week of the Tour de France," he noted. As a specialist in flat time trials, he sees this as a great opportunity. "Whether I go to the Tour will also depend on the spring and how I feel."