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."
-
-
Mikel Landa suffered multiple fractures in Giro d’Italia crash, team confirms
The Bahrain Victorious rider looked in great form before he crashed out of the race on day five
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Nacer Bouhanni banned for two months after sprinting incident involving Jake Stewart
The sprinter shoved Stewart in the final of a French one-day race earlier this year
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Pavel Sivakov crashes out of Giro d'Italia 2021
The Franco-Russian rider came into the race as a surprise co-leader with Egan Bernal
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Egan Bernal says he's pain-free after first day in the mountains at Giro d'Italia 2021
The 2019 Tour de France champion had been concerned about his back pain issues going into the race
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Filippo Ganna says Remco Evenepoel ‘had fantastic legs’ as he questions whether he can maintain lead in Giro d’Italia
The Italian time trial star keeps the pink jersey after stage three, but can he hold on for another day?
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Dylan Groenewegen: I’m happy with fourth, but I’m a winner and I always want more
The Dutchman was able to feature in the sprint after serving a nine-month ban from racing
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Ethan Hayter holds on to Volta ao Algarve lead as Kasper Asgreen wins stage four time trial
The British rider remained in the overall lead despite crashing on the 20km time trial
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Filippo Ganna obliterates the field to take victory and pink jersey on Giro d'Italia stage one time trial
Time trial world champion wins opening time trial for second consecutive year
By Richard Windsor •
-
Ethan Hayter sprints to victory and the overall lead on stage two of Volta ao Algarve 2021
The British rider had two team-mates sacrificing themselves to carry him to the win
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Egan Bernal says he doesn’t have the same form as when he won the Tour de France, but wants to find his confidence
The Colombian star is favourite to win the Giro d’Italia, but has taken a different approach in his preparation
By Alex Ballinger •
