Gianluca Pollefliet recently inked a three-year deal with Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, the 'new' WorldTour team led by Vincent Lavenu. The 21-year-old Flemish rider swiftly transitions to the elite ranks, joining 'the big boys.' However, there appears to be no nervousness from Pollefliet, who is eagerly anticipating the commencement of his new adventure.
In 2021, Pollefliet—also an enthusiastic track cyclist—was still plying his trade on the road for the club team ACROG-Tormans, followed by two seasons with the Lotto-Dstny outfit. It quickly became evident that Pollefliet, named after former professional footballer Gianluca Vialli, is evolving into a top sprinter. Nonetheless, he is increasingly being recognized as a potential classics rider, especially after securing victory in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for underprivileged riders in May. "Arnaud De Lie is a great example for me, but Jasper Philipsen certainly is as well. Jasper started as a pure sprinter but is progressively establishing himself as a classics rider," he recently shared with IDLProCycling.com during the team presentation held in Lille.
"I love the classics and have a high intrinsic speed," he emphasizes, clarifying the type of rider he aspires to become. Riding Monuments in his first WorldTour year might be a bit premature, as the man from Bornem points out. "It would be nice if I could start in a race like Le Samyn or the GP Denain and already make my presence felt. In the bigger races, it seems normal to contribute to the team's efforts, riding in a supporting role and perhaps testing my limits.
However, Pollefliet does not entirely rule out participating in Monuments. "In principle, it should be possible for me to ride races like Paris-Roubaix, but all that still has to be discussed. Soon I will have a discussion with my manager, and afterward, I'll have more information about my program. In addition to the races I already mentioned, events like Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Gent-Wevelgem are races that should suit me. The Tour of Flanders is extremely tough, so I don't see that happening as quickly. In any case, I will give my very best in every race."
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What about big tours? That doesn't seem to be in the offing either (yet). It is mainly in the classical spring that the friendly youngster wants to show what he is capable of. "I believe with this team, I will get more opportunities in the spring classics. Also, the fact that I'm riding here alongside guys like Oliver Naesen and Dries De Bondt really appeals to me. They have a lot of experience, and I'm going to be able to learn a lot from them. I also suspect that once I start performing at a high level, I will get my own chances more and more often. And that might be a good thing,' he said. 'The classics core of our team is strong, but maybe not as strong as the climber core. That might give me extra chances in the spring races, especially since the Tour de France is very important within a French team."
It is fair to say that Pollefliet's career has developed at lightning speed. Only 21 years old, yet already thrown into the deep end. That brings with it a certain excitement. At least, one would think so. Pollefliet himself actually seems to remain calm under it. 'I'm not really nervous about being part of a WorldTour team. It's not that bad. I have already acquainted myself with the guys a bit, as well as the team management. For me, it's mainly about seeing what happens and evaluating how I feel in certain races. If I have a good feeling right away, the expectations will increase. But first, I will enjoy riding without expectations. In the U23 team, I had the feeling I could win almost every race. So, it is interesting to ride again with an open mind and without too much stress.
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On the other hand, it is also true that Pollefliet has gained some experience riding pro races over the years, so it is not entirely new. 'I have participated in a few pro races, and they went pretty well, although not at the WorldTour level. So that might be a more significant step. But I believe I have the steering skill and insight to navigate well in the peloton with the big boys.
Pollefliet is still young, and in that sense, it will be one significant journey of discovery, where he will inevitably encounter various challenges. Nevertheless, the young man seems to be brimming with self-confidence, which is logical given his results, and that is something we can only praise. When discussing areas for improvement, Pollefliet mentions that he mainly lacks climbing ability. "Cycling uphill is my weakest point, although it improves every year. It remains a work in progress, but I am not afraid of not succeeding. And, of course, it shouldn't come at the expense of my sprint. It's always a bit of a balancing act. I am now also working for the first time with the team's nutrition staff. Perhaps shedding one or two kilograms without compromising my strength can definitely help me in climbing."