De la Cruz: “I want to regain the enthusiasm and level that I had before 2021”

The recent pre-season was different from what David de la Cruz (34 years old) was used to a long time ago. His contract with Astana was ending and he had a project to continue the world tour… which ultimately did not work out. Returning to the market, the Q36.5 in the Pro Team category announced its arrival in December. This is the first time since 2015 that the Sabadellian has left the World Tour, but now he is looking for something more important: to regain his enthusiasm. He spoke to AS at O ​​Gran Camiño.

How do you perceive the beginning of the season and the new stage?

Very happy and wants to restore the team’s confidence, aiming to shine with the number on his back.

These have been difficult months…

Yes, it was a difficult winter, a little turbulent. I had a nearly finished project that was delayed longer than necessary. When I had the opportunity to be a part of Q36.5, I felt excited about this project, getting back to people I had worked with in the past, like Alex Sanz (one of the most important figures), and the structure behind them caught my attention.

Can we recognize a project that was not implemented?

I won’t say this out of respect.

And did you fight to continue the world tour?

I won’t deceive you. At first, the only thing I wanted was to continue on the World Tour so that I could be guaranteed a place on the grand tours, but when I heard Alex Sanz, being on the World Tour became secondary to me. Also because of the team’s schedule, which is very good. Obviously we will miss participating in the Grand Tour (Turn, tour and return), but we have World Tour races like Tirreno-Adriatico, Basque Country, Romandy, Tour of Switzerland… these are high level competitions. I’ll probably miss being out of the WorldTour more in the summer, especially when I don’t go to La Vuelta, the race that excites me the most, but when it came to signing the contract there were more things weighing on me. before the very fact of continuing the world tour.

What are you looking for in this change?

To bring back the enthusiasm and show again the level that I had before 2021, when I was in the UAE and which perhaps it cost me a little more to achieve in Astana, where I felt that I was very unlucky. It’s not that the races are going faster, but that there are more people going fast. Previously, for example, there were 20 that went quickly. Now there are 60 of them. It was hard for me to work, and then there was always some kind of trouble. In 2023 I am focusing on the Tour and the Vuelta. In the first there is autumn, and in the second there is illness and home. It’s hard to deal with, but now I’m thinking about other things and I’m happy to be where I am.

How is the atmosphere in Q36.5?

Very good, because the special thing is that this is an international team. I came from a team where there was a very large group of Kazakhs and another Italian, and you can see two nationalities that have a lot of weight, but in this case that is not the case, we are very distributed. Three Spaniards (De la Cruz, Javier Miquel Asparren and Marcel Camprubi), Italians…being international is very useful when it comes to work. This is appreciated and it is also good for the sponsors because they have a more international project. The team has only been around for two years, but they have a very good image. Everyone I consulted told me it was a very good project.

What will your schedule be?

I’ll be at Strada Bianche (this Saturday), then Tirreno-Adriatico and, if all goes well, the Basque Country (Itzulia) and the Tour de Romandie. Then we will see if the Dauphine or the Tour of Switzerland and the Spanish Championship will be an important goal.

The battle for UCI points is fierce today.

For any professional team at this time, points are very important, and even more so since invitations to next year’s grand tours will largely depend on the rating. All teams have this in mind, and the Q36.5 is no slouch in this regard.

Finally, what do you want from this year?

(Thoughtful pause). At the sporting level, I need to get my hands up again. Many years have passed without victories(since 2018) and I was close to winning many times. Also enjoy the season, something I may have lacked a little in previous years.