What was the defining feature of Thomas De Gendt’s professional cycling career between 2009 and 2024? Long solo attacks. He saw himself as a Houdini on wheels: a master of the breakaway who preferred to set off alone rather than stay in the heart of the peloton.
However, that is not the only reason why Thomas De Gendt has always been something of an outsider. While other riders often seek the limelight and stick to strict training schedules, De Gendt has always been more of an instinctive rider. This idiosyncratic approach has served him well, with stage victories in the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España and the Giro d’Italia to his name. In 2012, he even finished third overall in the last Grand Tour.
He wrote his biography, Solo, together with Jonas Heyerick, editor-in-chief of the cycling magazine Bahamontes. In it, De Gendt spoke for the first time about the mental impact of life as a professional cyclist on his family, which led him to depression.
Expect a story about never giving up, mental resilience, and the power of following your own path. After all, Thomas De Gendt knows better than anyone that this combination is the key to success. He talks about it as only he can: openly, with a touch of self-deprecation, and with compelling anecdotes that put you right at the heart of the action.
