Louis Vervaeke is 21 years old Belgian rider. Talented, he showed he was a good climber. He won this season the Tour des Pays Savoie, Ronde de l'Isard and a stage of the Tour de l'Avenir. In 2015, he will join the professional peloton in the Lotto Soudal team.

"I did dream of a year like this. I did know I would be pro in 2015, so in the winter I could work hard without pressure. My main goal was to win one stage race of UCI level but that I would win 4 was really a dream !", he told Ciclismo Internacional.

During the Tour des Pays de Savoie, he finished each stage in the top 5. An impressive performance: "I knew my form was good after l’Isard, but I had a feeling I could do better, and thanks to my trainer, Dirk Onghena, I was better. For me it was the ultimate feeling, to be sure I was ready to be a professional. In the first stage I was really unbeatable, and so I attacked too early and broke on the final climb. I was really angry with myself. So I knew on the other days to also use my head. In stage 3, I did know I wouldn’t win because the finish wasn’t suited to me, but I was still 3rd.

"For me, a stage win is sometimes more special than the GC, as there is more adrenalin. Especially the last stage, where I also took the GC after a hard battle with the Russian rider(Foliforov)."

At the end of this year, he was an intern in the Lotto team. He has participated in major races like the Canadian classics and the Tour of Lombardy. "It was a really nice experience. There is a whole different atmosphere in Canada, than in Europe. In Quebec, I served the team in the final and in Montreal I had to go in the early break and did well to take the KOM jersey.

"In Lombardia, I didn’t have a good day. At the start, I already felt that it wasn’t going to be my day. However, it was the most beautiful race I have ever competed in, it really is a big classic with a big history."

Now up to training for the upcoming season. He explains how he trains: "I really love to train with 2-4 riders, but my specific training I love to do alone. I go a lot to the mountains to train. I prefer the combination of long distance and high gradient. I like the Italian climbs." 

What will be his goal for the 2015 season ? "Learning, get stronger and being able to show in some races that suit me. I’ll be happy if I can compete in the finals of some classics. It would also be good to ride a nice GC in a 2.HC or 2.1 race."