Ine Beyen on Ruben Van Gucht: “I Could Have Wringed His Neck” | Cycling News
The women’s cycling classics season is underway, and with it, the return of Ine Beyen to the commentary booth. She’ll be alongside her regular partner, Ruben Van Gucht, a pairing that, according to Beyen, isn’t without its playful challenges.
Beyen expressed her enthusiasm for the start of the spring classics season, telling Het Nieuwsblad, “In the winter, road cycling kind of falls flat. But in February, you get in the zone. Getting ready in the morning to go to the race, then into the booth and on air… oh, I love it!”
The dynamic between Beyen and Van Gucht appears strong, despite occasional external criticism. “I get a lot of emails and messages on social media,” Beyen explained. “People saying, ‘Good job!’ Or not. Sometimes they say, ‘Don’t let Ruben take over.’ But we don’t feel that way. Ruben and I are a good duo.”
Their rapport is a key element, according to Beyen. “We get along well,” she continued. “I feel the viewers can feel that. I’m no longer bothered when he arrives at the last minute. It’s his job as a commentator to welcome the viewers.” However, she playfully noted a point for improvement for Van Gucht.
Beyen recounted a running joke with Van Gucht, revealing, “The times I’ve prepared to take over, only to see him show up at the last minute with a smile from ear to ear… The record was six seconds before we went on air. I could have wrung his neck!” She added with a laugh, “Now I don’t prepare anymore.”
Van Gucht’s presence extends beyond the commentary booth, frequently making headlines due to his personal life. Beyen, however, remains unfazed. “We know who Ruben is. He does things privately that are a bit different. But in his job, he’s brilliant. He can likewise laugh at himself. So I laugh with him. What else can you do?”
The conversation surrounding Beyen and Van Gucht’s commentary comes as Lotte Kopecky’s early season performance has been under scrutiny. Despite a mechanical issue during the Omloop Nieuwsblad, preventing her from contesting the finale on the Muur van Geraardsbergen, both Beyen and Van Gucht see no cause for concern regarding her form.
According to reports from , Beyen believes Kopecky’s recent strong showing at the European Track Cycling Championships indicates she is where she needs to be. “Kopecky didn’t disappoint, because she didn’t have the chance to ride the final,” Beyen stated. “She’s where she wants to be and where she needs to be. I have complete confidence in her.” Van Gucht echoed this sentiment, suggesting that any setbacks now are preferable to experiencing them in larger races like the Ronde van Vlaanderen or Milan-San Remo.
The discussion also touched upon the contrasting strengths of climbers and sprinters, specifically focusing on Lorena Wiebes. Although acknowledging Wiebes’ improved climbing ability, Beyen pointed out the significant physical differences between her and riders like Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma. “Vollering was stronger than Wiebes on the Muur, and that was to be expected,” Beyen explained. “If you compare the physiques of Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma to Lorena Wiebes, you notice a clear difference.”
Despite this, Beyen didn’t rule out the possibility of the Ronde van Vlaanderen ending in a sprint finish, noting Wiebes’ increasing proficiency on short climbs. “And she’s getting better and better at those short hills, so you never know.”
The analysts also observed a lack of tactical maneuvering in the finale of the Omloop Nieuwsblad between Vollering and Niewiadoma. Beyen noted that neither rider was willing to take risks, with Vollering even offering Niewiadoma the opportunity to lead in the final 300 meters. “They just kept riding around,” she commented.
There were some positive signs for Belgian riders, with Fleur Moors performing well and Shari Bossuyt securing a strong seventh-place finish. Beyen highlighted Bossuyt’s potential, particularly her sprinting capabilities honed through track cycling, suggesting she could be a surprise contender in races like Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Looking ahead, the arrival of Elisa Longo Borghini, Kim Le Court, and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot at Strade Bianche is expected to shake up the competitive landscape. Ferrand-Prévot, in particular, is known for making an immediate impact whenever she competes.