Laurens De Plus says he can't wait to kickstart his career at Ineos Grenadiers in the upcoming 2021 season after only appearing for former team Jumbo-Visma four times in 2020.
The reason for De Plus' lack of racing was because of an ongoing hip injury alongside the issues of the Covid-19 global pandemic surrounding the whole year.
>>> Wout van Aert and Jumbo-Visma reportedly close to agreeing contract extension
Speaking to Sporza's podcast, De Tribune, De Plus says: "I was very happy when I was allowed to put on the Ineos outfit for the first time on January 1. It gave me an adrenaline boost, I am really looking forward to be able to shine again this year as in 2019.
"[2020] was a bit disappointing. Due to the lockdown, the entire season was crammed into three months. That hip injury before the restart of the season was therefore very inconvenient.
"Thanks to [Primož] Roglič's victory in Liège, I was still able to say goodbye to the team [Jumbo-Visma] in a nice way. Otherwise it would have been sour."
The 25-year-old says he is really looking forward to showing what he can do in front of his new team-mates and to aim for some big targets.
De Plus' brother has been with the British team for some time as a mechanic which reassured him that the team is an ideal fit.
The Belgian isn't coming to Ineos as yet another domestique in the mountains, and while he will have to support the big names, he will also have the lead at races like the Ardennes Classics.
He continued: "It will not be as everyone probably thinks, I really have ambition.
"We agreed with the team that I will still go to the Grand Tours and support the leaders. But in certain races I will be allowed to take my own chances."
Ineos have allowed De Plus to choose some races in his race calendar: "I have indicated that the Ardennes Classics are close to my heart. The plan is to be good there and to get a free role."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Mark Cavendish wants to continue for 'at least' two more years
Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl sprinter turns 37 this weekend
-
Canyon offers Aeroad with new build options designed to increase accessibility
While the frameset remains unchanged the 2022 line-up includes DT Swiss wheels throughout and power meters from SLX level upwards
-
Five talking points from stage seven of the Giro d'Italia 2022
What we learned from the hardest day of the race so far
-
Jumbo-Visma bounce back from Etna disappointment on the road to Potenza at Giro d'Italia
Tom Dumoulin and Koen Bouwman deliver Dutch victory on stage seven
-
Fan makes Sam Oomen crash post-Giro d'Italia stage five
Jumbo-Visma haven't exactly had the best luck over the opening five days
-
Ineos Grenadiers insist they had a 'good day' on stage four of the Giro d'Italia, amid confusing tactics
The train returned, but Pavel Sivakov was dropped on Mount Etna
-
Tom Dumoulin and Jumbo-Visma left licking wounds after first Giro d'Italia mountain test
Dutchman and teammates tumble down general classification
-
Pavel Sivakov: 'I’m really happy to be back to my level'
Ineos Grenadiers rider in break at Tour of the Alps, caught with under 10km to go
-
Bradley Wiggins: Ineos Grenadiers victory at Paris-Roubaix was 'typical Dave Brailsford'
Former Tour de France winner spent the day on a motorbike covering the race
-
'You gotta love bike racing don't you, it's the best thing in the world' — Ben Turner after a dramatic first Paris-Roubaix
Ineos Grenadiers rider claims 11th after crashing, but sees teammate win race
