Why Arensman's two Tour stage wins are not his only highlight: 'Cycling only makes up a small percentage of it'

Who would have predicted that Thymen Arensman would win two stages at the Tour de France? The talent had always been there, and many fans could see his potential. But that he would actually pull it off was something few truly expected. Yet what a summer it turned out to be for the Dutch climber from INEOS Grenadiers. Arensman himself looks back on a year full of highlights – and not just because of cycling.

In stage 10, Arensman finished second behind Simon Yates, but in stages 14 and 19 he struck back in style. The stage to La Plagne in particular captured the imagination. It was just one of many highlights in 2025. “This was the happiest year of my life,” Arensman told NU.nl. “I had to think about that for a moment, because cycling only makes up a small percentage of it.”

Because, as he explains: “Cycling is secondary. A very important secondary thing, because I am busy with my body 24/7 for it. But my personal life weighs much more heavily when it comes to whether I am happy. This year my girlfriend also became a resident of Andorra. We got a lovely little dog, everyone in my family is healthy. That is mainly why this has been such a beautiful year for me.”

So it was a year full of beautiful moments for the rider from Deil, even though the cycling season itself did not start particularly well. Of course, he finished third at Paris-Nice and second in the Tour of the Alps, but the Giro d'Italia became a disappointment from day one. He lost one and a half minutes immediately and soon had to forget about any hopes of a strong general classification. Later, he spoke openly about his struggles during the Giro in conversation with Tom Dumoulin.

Being open about difficult days does not come naturally, but Arensman realizes that, as a top athlete, he has a responsibility as a role model. “I don’t really gain anything by talking about my struggles on television,” he says. “But I thought it was important to show young athletes that it is completely normal to have doubts. And to talk about them.”

He has also taken steps in how he treats himself. “Above all, I have become more honest with myself,” the 26-year-old climber explains. “I listen better to my body. In the past I always wanted to do just a bit more. Still train for five hours, even when I was tired. Now I’ll ride four hours instead.” That approach is clearly paying off.

And it is not just physically that he is being kinder to himself; mentally, too, he has made progress. He has gained much more confidence. “The confidence that it’s okay if, during a training camp in December, I get dropped by my teammates. That things don’t always have to be perfect. Of course that’s difficult, because as a top athlete you have enormous intrinsic motivation. But this approach has definitely had an effect.”

Back to the Tour de France, where Arensman surprised friend and foe by beating Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard. Belgian analist José De Cauwer even called it “one of the highlights of the season.” “I mainly enjoy riders who make it happen for themselves,” the Belgian said in the podcast De Grote Plaat. “Arensman rode away from Vingegaard and Pogacar on La Plagne. That really moved me.”

But did Arensman himself realise how special that moment was? “I experienced that stage very consciously, because I was there myself. I could control everything, I could feel in my legs how much it hurt. Because of that, it didn’t feel as big to me as it did to my family. Or to José De Cauwer. That realization only came through the reactions of others.”