“Yes, I’m aiming high.” This is what track cyclist Harry Lavreysen from Luyksgestel says about his ambitions for the Olympic Games this year in Paris. Four years ago he came home from Tokyo with two gold and one bronze medal. In August he will go for three gold medals. Four weeks ago he achieved the same result at the European Championships in Apeldoorn, but he has the feeling that he was not even in top form there. Harrie talks about it on Wednesday in the TV program ‘KRAAK. asks further’ from Omroep Brabant.
The interview takes place in Omnisport Apeldoorn. There is the cycling track where Harrie completes his training every weekday morning. He also lives in Apeldoorn, but he still goes back to Brabant every weekend for his social life.
The stands around the cycling track are now empty, but Harrie remembers exactly how full they were four weeks ago during the European Championships. “I had the feeling that they were all behind me,” he says. When he thinks back, his trademark broad smile appears. “It was definitely one of the most beautiful tournaments I have ever competed.”
He proved particularly powerful in the keirin, a sprint event with six riders. He had to start at the back, but he likes that. “Then I have an overview and then I can throw myself into such a hole and then see if I can break free.” That worked wonderfully. Normally, the finish photo of the keirin often has to be studied to determine who has won. Now that wasn’t necessary. Harrie crossed the finish line with a large lead and loose hands.
He has looked back at the images many times. He allowed himself that, but his gaze quickly shifted towards Paris. He will only cycle two more races until August, everything else is focused on building up to the Games. Then he has to peak and the schedules for that are ready. By preparing in this way, he thinks he will be even stronger at the start than at the European Championships. Despite those three gold medals in Apeldoorn, he says: “I wasn’t even in top shape yet.”
So again six months in which everything has to make way for his sport. But motivation is not a problem for Harrie. The sport seems to have been invented for him. “That’s what it looks like,” he says, laughing. “I love the game and the tactics involved. It’s not just strength.”
But that power is also fine. He may have the strongest thighs in the Netherlands. For the experts: it can cycle away a power of 2000 watts for more than 15 seconds. And at peak it has sometimes reached more than 2600 watts.
Just to maintain that power, intensive training is required every weekday morning on the track in Apeldoorn. And what does Harrie do in the afternoon? “Actually nothing, then I have to recover from training to be ready for the next morning. If I didn’t do that, I would reach my limits by the end of the week.”
‘CRACK. asks through’ is broadcast every Wednesday at 5.15 pm and will be repeated afterwards. The program is also available in a longer version on Brabant+, and there is an extra-long podcast of the interview.