Edward Theuns: “That win was such a surprise, I had already given up on my chances”
On Friday afternoon, Edward Theuns will start with bib number one in the Bredene Koksijde Classic 2026. The experienced rider from Lidl-Trek won the Flemish classic somewhat surprisingly last year, seizing an opportunity he never expected to get again. Especially the fact that he could celebrate that victory with his wife and child meant a great deal to Theuns. In an interview with WielerFlits, he describes that moment as one of the most beautiful in his career.
In his younger years, late bloomer Edward Theuns was regarded as a talent for the classics. While it took him all four of his under-23 years to secure a pro contract with Topsport Vlaanderen, things moved quickly after that. Already in 2016, he took the step up to Trek-Segafredo and, except for one season leading the team at Team Sunweb (which turned out to be a mismatch), Theuns has ridden in American—and now German—service. Despite his status as a promising classics rider, he quickly ended up in a supporting role in the biggest races at Lidl-Trek and its predecessors.
“That happened quite quickly in the classics, especially with Jasper Stuyven in the team,” Theuns explains in the Alpecin Barbershop. “Certainly when Mads Pedersen really started performing well.” But before I fully committed to the lead-out role, that really only happened after a top sprinter joined our team. Since Jonathan Milan joined us (in 2024, ed.), I’ve decided to give 100% commitment to that role. Before that, I still got my own chances in smaller races. Now I’d rather ride all races with Milan in order to achieve success as a team,” the Belgian clarifies.
It is partly for that reason that his victory in last year’s Bredene Koksijde Classic—where Theuns won an attentive finale ahead of Luke Lamperti and Nils Eekhoff—came as a huge surprise to himself. And precisely because his family was there, that win had a golden touch. “The decision to ride more in support was almost 100%, I hardly had chances for myself anymore. It’s a bit funny that just when you mentally make that switch, that opportunity suddenly appears—and that you are able to seize it. That’s something very unique,” he says.
“The chance of pulling it off is super small,” he continues. “Everything came together that day in the race. And on top of that, my son started asking quite often when I was going to win… All of that played a part. Life as a rider is sometimes not easy and puts a lot of pressure on the rider’s surroundings. And I think that’s often a bit underestimated by the outside world. Which makes it all the more special when you can achieve success and realize that the sacrifices are actually worth it,” Theuns adds, ranking that moment higher than eighth place in Paris-Roubaix 2017.
