Arjen Livyns experiences Astana success from the front row: "I want to move up myself too"

Two days in the pink jersey and two stage wins: XDS Astana's Giro d'Italia is already more than successful after six days of racing. Uruguayan Guillermo Thomas Silva and Davide Ballerini took the biggest prizes, but precisely the fact that there have already been wins also opens up opportunities for the other riders. Including West Flemish rider Arjen Livyns, who is new to the team this year.

After three years at the highest level with the Lotto team, the 31-year-old rider from Harelbeke had to look for a solution at the last minute last year. It was a somewhat uncertain period for the classics specialist, but he found the right match with Vinokourov’s team. "During the discussions, I immediately asked if I could race a Grand Tour," says Livyns. "In mid-November, they proposed the Giro and I was instantly excited about it."

Beyond all expectations
"It’s an Italian-tinged team and of course we ride here with many Italians around. It’s alive, you feel that they consider this a hugely important race, and that created a great atmosphere when we arrived at the start in Nessebar. So far, I’m really enjoying it, but the results certainly help," Livyns laughs.

Even team manager Alexander Vinokourov had not dared to dream of this beforehand. "The expectations were to try something in the sprints with Matteo Malucelli, in the transitional stages or the more punchy finishes with Christian Scaroni and Guillermo Silva, and to go for the overall classification with Harold Martin Lopez. In all the stages falling in between, we had to attack and fight for stage wins. The goal was to win at least one stage; it’s great that it happened on day two already."

That can also open opportunities for Livyns. "I feel that riders like Alberto Bettiol, Diego Ulissi and Scaroni are the most motivated. My role is more all-round. Helping in sprint preparation, setting up lead-outs, but I’m also allowed to join the breakaways in the transitional stages. Because we had the pink jersey, I had to ride a lot at the front during the first week. We’ll see how much energy that cost me. But in the coming days, I do see chances to move forward."

As often happens in a team that starts winning, that euphoric feeling usually brings a snowball effect of performances from different riders. After the very surprising sprint victory of Davide Ballerini, the girlfriend of home rider Bettiol treated the Astana riders to pizzas. With that satisfied feeling, they can go on with the rest of the Giro. "We were a bit surprised that we had already succeeded here, but we keep looking at it in two- or three-day blocks," Livyns reassures.

New contract
The West Flemish rider has an extra motivation. After a solid classics spring, he must—just like last year—fight for a new contract. "That does add a bit of pressure," he admits. "Due to circumstances, it was a one-year contract that we both agreed on at the time. But it’s not like you can rest on your laurels."

"It creates a desire to prove myself. When you are new to a team, you definitely have more to prove than when you have been there for three years and they more or less know what you can do. For many here, both riders and staff, I was unknown. Of course, you then try even harder to show that you’re worth it. So far, they’re satisfied, but I will only really know how satisfied they are when they offer me a contract extension (laughs)."