After riding to Spain through 47-degree heat, De Gendt turns to Pologne for Vuelta build-up

Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Dstny)

Whatever happens between now and the end of October, it’ll have been a memorably different season for Thomas De Gendt. Barring surprises, the Lotto-Dstny rider will have had just one Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España, on his schedule, with racing the Tour de France substituted by a 10-day ride to Spain from Belgium - with some sizzlingly hot temperatures en route, too.

Now back in racing at the Tour de Pologne, De Gendt last rode a single Grand Tour in a season in 2014 when he did the Giro d’Italia - which this year Lotto-Dstny did not race. Then he opted out of the Tour de France, telling his team he was “not ready.”