Thymen Arensman: Breakaway team say rider faces ‘difficult situation’ after father criticises Ineos Grenadiers online
Updated 06/05/2024 at 10:45 GMT+1
Ineos Grenadiers would have been in great spirits following Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia on Saturday afternoon. Jhonatan Narvaez produced one of the rides of his life to outlast favourite Tadej Pogacar. However, there was some controversy after rider Thymen Arensman's father criticised the team on social media. Eurosport's Breakaway team discuss what the post could mean for Arensman's future.
'I feel for him' - Breakaway team discuss impact of Arensman's father's social media criticism
Video credit: TNT Sports
Eurosport's Breakaway team believe that Ineos Grenadiers rider Thymen Arensman could find himself in a "difficult situation" after his father criticised the team on social media after Stage 1 of the Giro d'Italia.
The opening stage couldn't have gone any better for the team after Jhonatan Narvaez delivered one of the rides of his career as he managed to outlast race favourite Tadej Pogacar to win the opening stage on Saturday afternoon.
Geraint Thomas also produced a strong ride to limit his potential losses to Pogacar but Arensman endured a much tougher day in Italy.
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The Dutchman was left behind by the pack and struggled on the penultimate climb, crossing the finishing line over two minutes adrift of his leaders.
His father Martijn Arensman took to social media to express his frustration and disappointment at the situation and wrote: "The nicest thing about starting a GT is that no trainer can [s]crew up a cyclist's form anymore for the next three weeks.
"Hopefully it won’t be too screwed up for now."
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Cycling - Giro Italia - Stage 02 - Interview start - Jonathan Narváez (in English)
Video credit: TNT Sports
Speaking ahead of Stage 2 on Sunday, Eurosport expert Dan Lloyd said he felt sorry for the Ineos rider and believes that he could find himself in a tough situation within the team after his father's social media post.
"I think it puts him in a difficult situation," he told Eurosport. "Clearly he’s spoken in confidence with his dad that I don’t feel like I’ve being coached in a way that’s getting me to my best form at a time where I want to be at my best form.
"Not thinking that was suddenly going to be made public. You can imagine what it’s like as a dad knowing that and having that information, see him drop, see all the social media reaction, knowing what you know that he’s told you.
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"Exploding, it all gets a bit too much and you go on social media and all of a sudden, Thymen must have thought: ‘My goodness, what has my dad done?’
"I feel for him because it’s not just these next three weeks, he’s got to spend at least until the end of the year with that team, racing trying to get results. It looks like his contract does come to an end at the end of this year.
"It doesn’t seem it would be much of a surprise if he did move on but he’s got to get through the next nine months with the best results as possible and in the best moral possible."
Robbie McEwen agreed with Lloyd but also praised Ineos for the way they handled the fallout to the situation.
"It can definitely put you on the outer," he explained. "It wasn’t Thymen Arensman’s words, it wasn’t his tweet, it was from his father. You can’t control everything within or just outside of a team but his dad’s also privy to the conversations with Thymen.
"He’s said I don’t think it’s going as well as I could’ve, I don’t think my training was just right. And then his dad has let loose on social media. That can put you on the outer within the team.
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Cycling - Giro Italia - Stage 02 - Interview start - Geraint Thomas (ENG)
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I think so far, they’re handling it quite well with the way they’re approaching it with Thymen himself. They’re sort of isolating him and what’s happening from his father’s comments which is the right thing to do.
"But it’s not quite faultless yesterday for the team because you’ve got a guy who was aiming for the white jersey and a high overall finish who’s now over two minutes behind after day one."
Thomas was also asked about the situation before Stage 2 and he replied: "He’s his dad so he’s obviously protective, disappointed and emotional.
"That’s just the way it is but I’m glad my dad doesn’t even know how to use Twitter."
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