Brecht Dhaene

Age: 25
Height: 192 cm
Hometown: Kruishoutem, Belgium

Favourite style of race: Hilly races
Major goal for 2014: Catching a big UCI fish

You’re the only Belgian on any professional American team. Why are you
 moving your career to the west side of the Atlantic?


After several years and many top results racing in Europe, Astellas Cycling
 Team caught my attention by offering a very well balanced and challenging
 road racing schedule. This is bringing new opportunities for me as a rider.
Also the way of dealing with things on the west side of the Atlantic is 
fascinating me. Learning about those little differences in style and
approach are making it really worth it.





You have a Masters in European Politics. Do you have the same degree of 
education when it comes to tactics in races?


The challenge is not to win the race with the highest average power on the 
book, but winning it with the lowest. It’s impossible to be the strongest
 guy in every race. What I learnt about racing in Europe is that winning or 
losing can depend on very small details or decisions. So, making those
 right decisions every day and in every race - that’s the real “art of
 cycling”.

What litespeed frame have you chosen to ride?


I choose the L1R carbon frame. Although titanium is a marvellous material
to race on, the L1R is the lightest and, even more important, the geometry
of the frame suits me a lot more. I am quite tall, you know.

Teach us a bike racing specific Dutch sentence…
“De winnaar heeft altijd gelijk” (“the winner always got it right”) - It’s 
not about being the strongest or the fastest during the race, being the
first across the line is what really counts in cycling.





What do you think will be the biggest challenge in the USA are you ready to
 deal with it?


From what I know about the USA, my biggest concern is the food. Going to the
land of McDonald’s, Starbucks and Coca Cola could be a major challenge for
a cyclist who needs to be on the right body weight! Luckily the team is
offering places to stay where we have a kitchen and it’s easier for us as riders to stay healthy.

Note from the team: “Brecht is from the home of cycling, Belgium. One of the best riders on the European amateur circuit, we were keen to make the climbing specialist part of the team. We’ve got our eye on him for the Philly Classic”.