‘Racing is more than just watts’: Oman winner Baptiste Veistroffer proves true cycling enthusiast
Baptiste Veistroffer is a rider you simply can’t describe in one sentence. His personality? “Explosive,” he says himself. His racing style? Exactly the same. The 25-year-old Frenchman joined Lotto last year after a turbulent path involving various sports and technical university studies, where he emerged as an attacker. He carries that momentum into this season, already securing a breakthrough success at the Tour of Oman. Afterwards, we caught up with the eccentric rider for our camera.
Was it a surprise that after an early breakaway of 194 kilometers he stayed ahead of the peloton in the second stage finishing on Yitti Hills? The Lotto-Intermarché rider refuses to see it that way. “Ah no. It was always a goal to be in the break. If I’m not mistaken, Louis Vervaeke also stayed ahead of the peloton on this exact same finish a year ago. At the start, we had to take it easy and only give everything in the finale. I believed in that and it worked.”
Veistroffer tells this with a smile, because attacking is what drives him in racing. Last season, he logged about 2,000 kilometers of attacking moves—only surpassed by Victor Vercouillie and Bruno Armirail. This season, he’s already at 500 kilometers. Team director Mario Aerts gave us a hint why his protégé, despite numerous attempts, never came close to victory in 2025: Veistroffer raced like “a headless chicken.” Loosely translated: he couldn’t pace himself and made his efforts at the wrong moments.
“Maybe it’s because I’m still relatively new to cycling, but I still need to learn to race smart and crafty. I often have good legs, but modern racing isn’t just about pushing as hard as you can. It’s also about being smart and playing with the peloton, playing with the competitors, and then showing what you’ve got at the right moment. Everyone in the team says: look at Thomas De Gendt. Apparently, he was crafty. They say: you’re stronger than him, but not yet smart enough.”
It’s something Veistroffer has worked on, but he still finds it a tough challenge. “I love cycling when the effort is tough and long. Today was a boring day, and normally I don’t like that. The team can ask me for whatever they want, I’ll do it. Just not waiting around all day in the peloton. I prefer to push hard on the pedals, work for the team, attack, or do lead-outs.”
Climate Engineering
As the Frenchman himself points out, the fact that he only started racing fairly recently might explain part of it. Veistroffer prioritized his studies for a long time. After completing his bachelor’s degree in climate and environmental engineering, he conducted research into air conditioning systems and climate technology in the maritime sector.
“Besides that, I did triathlon, but it was virtually impossible to keep up three training sessions a day with my job. That’s why I switched to cycling four years ago,” says the young dynamo. Before that, he tried some other sports, including judo. But cycling was the best fit. “After a short spell at Decathlon, I got the chance to prove myself at Lotto. The first year was about learning and adapting, this year the aim was to deliver results.”
Backpacking Adventures
Veistroffer says it with confidence, but those who know him well see above all his great love for the bike. Anyone who follows “Babou” on social media stays updated on his cycling adventures even during the off-season. Two winters ago, Veistroffer backpacked over 2,200 kilometers by bike in and around Los Angeles. Last winter, he chose Thailand as the destination for a “crazy adventure” of about 2,500 kilometers. These are just a few of the bold exploits of the Frenchman.
“I love cycling in every sense,” laughs Veistroffer. “I wear many cycling hats: racing is one, but I also love going on adventures and exploring places I’ve never been before. Traveling by bike. Sometimes you’re training, and suddenly you see beautiful landscapes and churches. I’m just as interested in that. Cycling isn’t just about focusing on watts, it’s also a way to enjoy life. Maybe that’s what I need,” he concludes.
