Cyclist Giel Lejeune claimed the silver medal in the under-23 division at the European Cyclocross Championships on Sunday, sparking praise from his team management.
Christoph Roodhooft acknowledged the rising potential of the 18-year-id rider within the Alpecin setup.
“The potential of Giel is still difficult to estimate,” Roodhooft told WielerNieuws. “He is someone who still has a lot of margin in training volume.”
The team leadership noted distinct differences between Lejeune and fellow cross talent Thibau Nys. Roodhooft pointed out that Lejeune relies on a persistent rhythm rather than a sudden acceleration.
“Giel is not someone of the flashy acceleration,” Roodhooft told WielerNieuws. “On a staircase with ninety-nine steps, he does not suddenly speed up at the last twenty.”
“He will lay down a pace from bottom to top that is annoying for everyone,” he added.
Lejeune has already turned heads in races against elite fields this season, including an eighth-place finish at the Berencross and a victory in France. Roodhooft admitted that such rapid development exceeded pre-season projections.
“The step he has taken this year, nobody could have predicted,” Roodhooft told WielerNieuws. “Eighth in the Berencross, won in France… Whether he can win a TV cross?”
Roodhooft maintained a cautious outlook regarding future victories in top-tier televised events, noting that upcoming competition from riders like Tibor Del Grosso and Emiel Verstrynge will make top-ten finishes increasingly difficult.
“It depends on which races they broadcast,” Roodhooft laughed to WielerNieuws.
