Crazy how fast things can change: dream transfer to Red Bull brings Arne Marit back to winning
Almost four months ago, Arne Marit (27) was still a victim of the merger between Lotto and Intermarché-Wanty and ended up without a team. Today, he is part of one of the biggest teams in the world and, on top of that, he wins his first race. Because yes, on Sunday at the Trofeo Palma, he struck gold right away, in his debut for Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe.
"Did you know that I had gone three years without a win? That’s why I was extra emotional after finally succeeding in Mallorca," says the man from Vollezele to our microphone. Marit moved to the pros at ProTeam Flanders Baloise in 2021 after a successful U23 career, where at the end of the year he out-sprinted Bryan Coquard and Elia Viviani in the GP du Morbihan. In the following years, Marit often ended up just short of the podium at Intermarché-Wanty, but more often made headlines due to bad luck.
"That became frustrating over time. I had always been a winner as a youth rider. Then you start to doubt if it's still possible after those tough years. Deep down you know it should still be in there, but at the same time, you’re not sure. On Sunday, I suddenly felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders; a long-standing frustration disappeared. It was always just not quite there, but now it was. Hopefully, it won’t take another three years here."
Was that also the reason you weren't allowed to stay with Lotto-Intermarché?
"The only argument they had for not keeping me was the fact that I hadn’t won in recent years. Otherwise, I stayed motivated all along. Two days before the end of the Tour of Guangxi, I heard I couldn’t stay, after a decent season with many top 5 finishes. Then your world collapses for a moment. I was pretty pessimistic and started talks with many teams on a much lower level."
And then Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe came out of nowhere as a saving angel?
"Literally. You know that every decent team in November either has one spot left or is completely full. Until I suddenly heard the news about Oier Lazkano (who was suspended due to abnormal blood values, ed.). I even joked with my girlfriend: imagine if this becomes my lifeline. Less than two days later, Zak (Dempster, the sporting director of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, ed.) was on the line. A dream scenario. Crazy how quickly things can turn around, right?"
Does that win prove that the team has already changed your career in some way?
"I think so, yes. Somehow I feel that it’s all still about to start for me. Maybe this is a turning point, the change I needed. It’s a different culture, a team full of winners and great champions. The support is also top-notch. At the Trofeo Palma, I rediscovered the killer instinct I had as an under-23. We have to build on that momentum now."
But does that really have a direct impact on how fast you sprint?
"Because I’m training differently now, yes. This winter I totally stopped focusing on the sprint and focused more on endurance. You can feel it, leading up to that final sprint. There were moments riding into the wind when I used to always drop back. But now I could stay there because I had more in reserve. I earned my position by actively investing in it. That’s the difference from the previous three or four years. Back then, I sprinted from tenth to third place. Now, I sprint from a top-five position to victory."
What did Ralph Denk see in you?
"He first signed me in a supporting role for Jordi Meeus and Danny van Poppel. Those are the two main sprinters of the team. I don’t think they expected me to win a race, but by doing so, I think I immediately made a good impression. The few chances I get from Zak, I have to seize."
How did you get into that winning position on Mallorca?
"Actually, our Italian sprinter Alessio Magagnotti got his chance. That name won’t mean much to most people because he was still a junior last year and now rides for our Rookies (the development team, ed.). But believe me, he is a very fast guy. As a junior, he won every sprint he contested. And during training camp, he repeatedly left Jordi and Danny behind. And really by lengths, you know. Everyone kept looking at each other: it’s not normal how fast he is. That’s why he got his chance, and I was originally supposed to do the lead-out."
"But then there was a crash with two kilometers to go. I looked back and didn’t see any teammates left. At that moment, I got the click and thought: I have to make sure I stay in position. If they return, even better. If not, I have to solve it on my own. With about 800 meters to go, I decided to sprint myself. In a full sprint, you don’t look back."
Will this open extra doors now?
"Maybe. I already get another sprint chance in Valencia, and without Jordi and Danny there. Those are the days I have to perform. I also believe I can do it. I notice I’ve learned a lot from the mistakes of past years. That will help me both for chances for myself and for the team. That way, I hope to confirm my value."
