Quinten Hermans (26) does not raise his voice, but on the telephone he is still boiling with anger.
Or is there a lack of understanding now that Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert is ignoring him for the Tour de France.
“Would I have expected this? No, absolutely not. I thought I was a certitude, but at 5.30 pm I got a call from Aike Visbeek, our performance manager.”
“The reason why I have to stay at home is not clear. But it certainly has nothing to do with sports. It is very unfortunate.”
“At first I thought the call was coming to hear how I’m doing, because we’re leaving tomorrow. And my flight was booked. But there was bad news.”
“I advise everyone in the press to ask Aike for a good explanation. I didn’t get one.”
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Quinten Hermans repeats it several times: “I don’t think it has anything to do with sports. I think it’s a shame it’s not about that.”
But what is it about? “It has not been said in so many words, but it was more about the fact that the atmosphere might suffer now that I – as is known – go to another team.”
“I have never noticed that myself. I have had contact with the team management and they also fell out of the sky a bit. It was also unclear to them.”
Hermans moves to Alpecin-Deceuninck. So that’s the cause. However? “I don’t want to confirm that. It wasn’t said in those words, but 1 + 1 is still 2, right?”
“I was always a rider they liked to work with. I think it’s weird that I would change the atmosphere when I don’t have that feeling and I don’t think the other riders either. They were also shocked.”
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