After scoring the largest victory of his profession with a solo stage win at this summer time’s Tour de France, Victor Lafay is aiming to proceed that success along with his new group Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale in 2024.
The French puncheur, who may beforehand rely phases on the Giro d’Italia and Arctic Race of Norway amongst his 4 profession victories, has stated that he’ll be eyeing outcomes on the Ardennes Classics subsequent spring as he embarks on a brand new journey after 5 years at Cofidis.
27-year-old Lafay completed a career-best sixth at La Flèche Wallonne this season, coming residence within the group behind winner Tadej Pogačar. He not too long ago instructed Dutch web site In De Leiderstrui that it will be a “dream” to attain an enormous consequence within the Ardennes.
“Hopefully, I can proceed to develop strongly, similar to in earlier seasons, as a result of that is an vital supply of satisfaction,” Lafay stated.
“Frequently enhancing is a course of that appeals to me loads. In the beginning, I wish to do higher than in 2023. So, including to my win whole is vital in that sense.
“There are additionally many races that I want to win, which on the identical time actually swimsuit my traits. For instance, I’m speaking about La Flèche Wallonne or Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It is going to be tough to beat guys like Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel there, however you possibly can at all times dream.”
Lafay, who turned professional with Cofidis in 2019, is on the core of a new-look AG2R squad for 2024, becoming a member of dash star Sam Bennett, 2022 Giro stage winner Dries De Bondt, and Bruno Armirail among the many group’s main signings for the brand new season.
He reportedly turned down a €1.5 million wage at his outdated squad to make the transfer, whereas rumours place his new wage at across the €1 million mark. Lafay stated that he is blissful to stay inside a “French biking tradition” going ahead, having obtained presents from quite a few international groups this season.
“I consciously selected a French group,” he stated. “Final yr I spoke to a number of groups about my future, even earlier than the Tour de France. It’s certainly true that I discovered it tough to select.
“In fact, having a selection in any respect is a type of luxurious place. I used to be lucky to have the ability to make my very own selection relating to my future. There have been a number of international choices for me, however the French biking tradition inside this group was definitely my desire. It was your best option I may make.”
Lafay stated that his new squad – which waves goodbye to the retiring Greg Van Avermaet however retains GC man Ben O’Connor and Classics stars Oliver Naesen and Benoît Cosnefroy – “can take part in any race for a superb consequence.”
As for his personal private objectives, he stated {that a} return to the Tour de France and extra stage victories will probably be excessive on his record together with the Ardennes and a spot on the residence Olympic Video games in Paris.
“The Tour de France will usually be an vital aim for me once more,” he stated. “I may go both means with that, though chasing stage victories is the obvious selection.
“In any case, I wish to have a superb yr throughout the board, hopefully with some optimistic highlights. The Olympic Video games are after all organised in France. As a Frenchman, I even have to show that distinctive alternative right into a aim.”