ProTeam Andreas Kron: ‘I am very proud of all the choices the team has made’

The Dane looks back on last season and looks forward to 2023.
Race 02 March 2023

He stood out in Lotto Dstny’s Tour de France 2022 team. A fourth place amongst all the big guns in Lausanne. And what if he had not had that flat tire on his way to Mende, when he was in the decisive breakaway? Andreas Kron certainly wants more. Last year, the young Dane extended his contract with Lotto Dstny for two years and he is determined to return to la Grande Boucle for a stage win.

 

Unfortunately, you have not accepted cookies for displaying external content. Do you still want to know what you can see here? Adjust your preferences in our cookie statement.

Andreas Kron, how do you evaluate 2022?

“I would say: a big rollercoaster. There were injuries and multiple covid infections. But also highlights such as the Tour of Switzerland and the Tour de France. The start in Denmark was incredible. My performance was fine. Of course, we had hoped for more in 2022. But I can say that I learned a lot, maybe more than in 2021, when I won more. I have become mentally stronger. I had a knee injury last winter and that allowed me to enjoy this winter much more. I appreciate life as a professional cyclist much more now. I will take that with me to 2023. The fact that I have now done the Tour also makes me physically and mentally stronger. I know I can handle it and I'm ready to come back and go for stage wins.”

You also renewed your contract for two years. Can you explain?

“Yes, I extended my contract during the Tour. I am very happy in the team. We are a strong team and I feel at home here. That is important when you are on the road together for so many days. The team is moving in the right direction, even though we are now a ProTeam. Both me and the team have gotten to know each other very well in recent years. Together we can develop even more.”

What are your goals for 2023?

“The main goal is to develop. That applies to myself and the team. We must take this opportunity to get back to the top after some difficult years. With Dstny as a new sponsor and the relegation, now is a good time. Personally, I would like to win again. That's the main goal. In addition, I have some races where I would like to perform well. Although, I had to deal with a minor illness, I am really happy to be back at Strade Bianche, a race I really like. We are targeting a nice team performance there. Then comes the Tour of Catalunya. I've won there before and I'd like to do it again. And then come the Ardennes classics. I have a love-hate relationship with those races. I got sick the first time I was supposed to race there. Last year I crashed and got sick afterwards. So at first, I hope to just be at the start in a good shape. If that is the case, I'll see what happens when I'm in the final.”

Besides all the things you already talked about - the relegation and the racing program - there have been some other changes in the team as well. New trainers, a new nutritionist, a new collaboration with the University of Ghent. How do you feel about all of that?

“I am very happy with that. The team had come to a point where we had to change certain things. And we do it. I am very proud of that. We know we have to work hard. The new performance team is very good. The trainers are professional and hardworking. Everyone is committed. The same goes for Britt Lambrecht, the new nutritionist who works together with Gino Devriendt, who was already part of the team. As everyone knows, Britt is Bjorg's sister. For her to be here and follow in his footsteps is something very big. I am very proud to work with her and that she is so passionate. The collaboration with the University of Ghent is also a big step. More and more, cycling is collaborating with scientists. You have to move in that direction as a team and it is very nice that we can work so closely with them. This collaboration will certainly pay off in the long term.”

When do you feel 2023 will have been a success for you?

The first thing will be to win a race again. But I also want to further develop. If I am going to be in many finals and be up there in big races and be really close to a stage win or a win in a big race, I will also be satisfied because I am still young. But the main objective is to win. And hopefully more than once.”

Image: Photo News. Video: Facepeeters.

In this article