ProTeam The rise of Jarne Van de Paar: “I want to be more than a sprinter”

This season Jarne Van de Paar took the step from the Lotto Dstny Development team to the ProTeam. In his first months as a pro, Van de Paar immediately took a third place in the Trofeo Palma and achieved some good results in the Tour du Loir et Cher. “I am happy with my results from the last months”, he says, “but I hope to show myself some more in the next couple of weeks.”

Van de Paar inherited his love for cycling from his father, who was a professional mountain biker. At the age of 18, he joined the Lotto Dstny Development team. "Four years later, I am still part of the Lotto Dstny family. It's a beautiful story. I am finding my way in the professional peloton with the help of people I have known for years."

Van de Paar looks back on his evolution at Lotto Dstny with fond memories and is grateful for the opportunities and guidance he has received over the years. "I am a completely different Jarne than the boy who walked in here four years ago. Thanks to the sports directors, especially Kurt Van de Wouwer, I was able to develop as a cyclist. They taught me a lot about race strategy and professional attitude," said Van de Paar.

Jarne's sister also rides for the Lotto Dstny Ladies since 2022: "I really look up to Ines. She manages to combine the sport with her studies, something I would not be able to do. I can see that she enjoys herself on the bike. I live in Spain, so we don't see each other often, but when I'm in Belgium, we have the habit to ride together and catch up."

Due to the implications of a spider bite, Van de Paar missed some races in the past few weeks, but he was able to resume at the Tour du Loir et Cher where he won a stage and took a second place. He also conquered the points jersey. "It was a hectic stage race, but thanks to the hard work from the team, I was in perfect position for the sprint twice. I feel that my form is good, and I'm really looking forward to the coming weeks. I hope to show myself even more."

The beginning of the season also went well for Van de Paar, with a third place in the Trofeo Palma at the end of January. "My goal was to show myself at the beginning of the season," he explains. "I really hit my peak then, taking a podium spot in the Challenge Mallorca, behind Ethan Vernon and Biniam Girmay. It was the first time I competed with the pros and the team gave me the confidence to prove myself in the sprint. And with success. I was very proud of that."

Van de Paar is aware that his sprint is his strongest weapon. "But I want to develop in other areas too. I want to be more than just a sprinter and eventually show myself in the spring classics. Paris-Roubaix is the most beautiful race of them all, one big party. That's what I want to work towards in the coming years."

Foto's: Photonews, Céline LAZENNEC, Photographie ArClem