Daan Hoole: 'All-in for Jonathan Milan this Giro'

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Tuesday 30 April 2024 • Blog

Fleur Kok

A week before the start of the Giro d'Italia, Fleur visited the Costa Blanca. The Spanish coastal strip between Denia and Calpe is now the (second) home of many Dutch riders, including time trial specialist and cobbles-eater Daan Hoole. How does the Lidl-Trek rider review his spring-campaign? What are Lidl-Trek's main ambitions in the Giro – and (how) do Daan's personal goals fit into them?

Listen the entire interview with Daan Hoole in the WielerOrakel Podcast (in Dutch)!

Daan Hoole Giro Podcast — Daan Hoole with his rider-card in Jávea

How do you evaluate your classics season?

As a team we did very well, I think Lidl-Trek took a nice step and was one of the most dominant teams in the classics. But I also have mixed feelings about it, because I have had some bad luck this spring. At Nokere Koerse I fell in the last round, while I could have achieved a nice result there myself. And in Paris-Roubaix I had an unfortunate puncture, which meant I couldn't do my job in assisting Mads Pedersen.

Being a junior, you finished second in Paris-Roubaix, but due to your role assisting Pedersen, your cobblestone-score may a bit low, at 63. What are your thoughts about that rating?

I think that Paris-Roubaix is the classic that suits me best, given my height and weight. The times I have raced it, I have not been able to achieve any good result, so that explains the 63 score, but I certainly want to target this race in the coming years.

After Roubaix you went back to Spain. How's life on the Spanish Costa?

Very good. Of course because of the weather, but also the combination of flat and hilly roads makes the area very suitable for training rides.

We are here with a nice group of about seven Dutch riders living close to each other, so we try to ride together at least once a week. Last winter I was able to train a lot with my teammate Sam Oomen. Furthermore, everyone obviously represents different teams, but that does not have to be a problem for our training schedules. Unless you have to execute a specific exercise of course.

And now on the way to your second Giro. What are your expectations?

Yes, it's a very nice route. Our leader is Jonathan Milan. We support him with a full sprint train, which I am also part of in those stages without earlier duties.. Furthermore, there's have Jasper Stuyven (who recovered from his injury after Dwars door Vlaanderen), Edward Theuns, Simone Consonni and finally Milan who will try to finish it off. The route must suit him well, he recovered from his crash at Roubaix and an Italian in Italy is something special.

Furthermore, I can take my own chances in the time trials, with the second one suiting me better than the first. A top 10 would be nice. Juanpe López and Bagioli also appear at the start with individual goals. You will see Bagioli trying to make it to the breakaway a number of times.

We will keep an eye on you at the Giro time trials, and the National Championships are also coming up. Are you looking forward to that yet?

Most certainly, and especailly given the mutual time trial battle I have with my teammate Bauke Mollema. I think I finished better than him in the last four time trials we both participated in, so I thought the victor would be mine, but he is in great shape recently. If Thymen Arensman participates, he is of course also a stron contender. I finished third in 2022, second in 2023, so I hope to take that victory this year!