As Stijn Devolder prepares to make the transition from professional cycling rider to agribusiness, he gave an "exit interview" to the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab) in which he revealed that he thought he had more talent as a stage racer than as a classic athlete He revealed that he thought he had more talent as a stage racer than as a classic racer. The two-time Tour of Flanders winner said that his development as a Grand Tour rider ended when the Discovery Channel team disbanded.

In an interview with Long Range, Devolder said he grew up in a family that knew nothing about bike racing and spent his early years as a freelancer, modestly avoiding mention of his early success as a two-time junior Tour de Flanders winner. He seized his first big opportunity in Mapei.

"When I was under 23, I got a letter at home. It was an invitation from Mapei to become a trainee...When I was 22, I was suddenly sitting at the same table in Italy with Paolo Bettini, Franco Ballerini, and Michele Bartoli. I was still only half an inch tall."

Unable to sign with Mapei, DeBordel spent two seasons at the continental level before receiving an invitation from Lance Armstrong's US Postal Service team in 2004. He was equally nervous when he arrived in Texas to meet his idol and his first World Tour team.

"I remember Lance suddenly showing up behind me at the hotel that morning. He introduced himself and immediately put me at ease. Lance is one of the most empathetic people I've met in the cycling world. [I don't know if he was right. I believe I have more talent as a Tour rider than as a Classic rider. I was growing in that role with the Discovery Channel when the team went inactive."

DeBordel supported Tom Danielson, who finished seventh overall behind Roberto Heras at the Vuelta a España in 2005, his first Grand Tour, finishing 25th. The following year, he was 11th when Danielson finished 6th behind overall winner Alexandre Vinokurov. 2007 saw Danielson finish 3rd in the Tour de Suisse and take the leader's jersey in the Vuelta in the individual time trial on stage 8, but before stage 19 he fell ill and He retired.

"Johan Bruyneel even told me to skip the Classics the following year. 'I don't know. I don't want to comment on that. I don't want to comment on that, because everything was changing during those years. I don't know what would have happened."

DeBordel was recruited by Quick-Step after the Discovery Channel team folded at the end of the 2007 season, and in April he took his first win at the Tour de Flanders, soloing away from Nick Nuyens and Juan Antonio Flecha. He then made his first attempt at the 2008 Tour de France, hoping to finish in the top 10, but "that turned out to be a drama. I got sick at the start and was stupid not to tell anyone. I panicked and was afraid I would lose my chance after that. Racing with a fever is the worst thing you can do."

After another successful Tour of Flanders in 2009, DeVolder never again attempted Grand Tour GC, moving from Quick Step to Vacansoleil in 2011 and 2012, and then to RadioShack in 2013. After three seasons with Trek, Devolder dropped down to the Pro Continental level with Villems-Clarin in Veranda and then to Corendon Circus, where he spent the last years of his life.

Devolder says he has no regrets about abandoning his Grand Tour ambitions and focusing on the classics.

"I won the Tour de Flanders twice. I would never trade that for a podium in the Tour de France.

"Willems and Corendon Circus in Veranda were good years with two great teams. I was an experienced rider along with Wout Van Aert and Mathieu Van Der Pol, but to be honest, they were so good, they didn't need any experience. Mathieu only knew Koppenberg from the Tour de Flanders. But in the race, he is always where he should be. Except, of course, that one time on the planter."

Devolder would go on to have some success, but his star was stolen by the likes of Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen, and he never again graced the podium of a one-day classic. 2007 and 2010 saw him win the Belgian road race elite title three times and he would go on to win the Belgian road race elite title three times in the same year, In La Roche-en-Ardenne, he won the race single-handedly by nearly a minute.

"My wife and I often joke that I could have quit in 2013," he said. ' I was on a roll in the weeks leading up to it, but I didn't want anyone to see it. I didn't want my team to see it at the Tour of Switzerland. My director was Luc Meersman, Gianni's father, who was a big favorite for the Belgian championship. He didn't need to know how good I was. He was practically my second best."

Devolder revealed that he trained only by feel and did not know his VO2 max (by which a rider's potential is usually judged). The week before the Belgian Championships, I always raced in Halle Ingoueghem. Then I trained on the back of a moped. When I won the Belgian Championships in Ronse, I rode about 340 kilometers. It may not be scientifically justified, but it worked for me. I have always followed my feelings during training. I don't know what my VO2 max is. It doesn't matter."