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"No excuses, no secrets": Arne Marit ready for new challenges
Arne Marit has started his time at Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe with the best possible result. However, the Belgian wants to be important for the team in other roles. A portrait.
A week ago, Arne Marit didn't have to think long to find an answer to the question of what was the best moment of his cycling career so far. "Morbihan," he said after a moment's thought, referring to the one-day race in the department of the same name in north-west France that provided the backdrop for his first and, to date, only victory as a professional. That was in his first year as a professional cyclist in 2021. In a season completely turned upside down by the Covid pandemic, the race normally held in May concluded the ProSeries in mid-October. Established sprinters such as Bryan Coquard and Elia Viviani, who had a combined total of 130 victories at the time, lost out to the neo-pro from Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise. "That gave me a lot of self-confidence. Plus the adrenaline - a great moment."
A customised start
However, anyone who asks Arne Marit now about his best moment in his cycling life will get a different answer. "Mallorca Challenga, Palma," he now says, and in most cases will barely be able to hold back a broad grin. Because since the weekend, he has a second victory to his name. In the first race for his new team. Actually planned as the lead-out guy. And after a pre-season with an uncertain end.
Arne Marit in first race for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe
© Getty Images
Despite a current contract with Intermarché, Arne fell victim to the team merger with Lotto. He was only informed of the decision at very short notice, which made the search for new employers more difficult. When the Belgian was already prepared to sign on with smaller teams, he was contacted by Zak Dempster. The sports director of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe offered Arne Marit a new home, which he gratefully accepted.
"No more excuses"
"The first few weeks in the team were overwhelming. I arrived last minute and quickly had to get used to 150 new people, riders and staff. What impressed me the most: Every time I asked for something, I got help straight away," he recalls of his first few days in the team. "It's crazy how quickly people can male something happen. I'm in a very professional environment here. I notice that not only in training, but also with the equipment. But that also means: no more excuses. If it doesn't fit now, then it's the legs," he jokes.
Arne Marit wins the Trofeo Palma 2026
© Getty Sport
It was a relief. To see that I haven't lost my killer instinct means a lot to me.
But everything went right for Arne Marit right at his start on Mallorca. He was actually supposed to ride the leadout for Alessio Magagnotti. The 19-year-old Italian is a newcomer to the Rookies and dominated the domestic junior races the year before. However, a crash on the approach to the final sprint meant that both riders got lost in the hectic finale. Arne found himself in the best position, immediately switched from a supporting role to sprinter in his head and rode to victory. "It was a relief. Seeing that I haven't lost my killer instinct means a lot to me." And it also explains the very emotional jubilation after crossing the finish line. Arne had come close again and again in recent months and years, for example as third in a Vuelta stage last late summer.
The secret artist
That was different in his younger years. "I started cycling quite early at the age of ten or eleven. When my father went out for a ride with his mates every Sunday, I wanted to do the same. And then that was also Tom Boonen's big time. He was a huge idol of mine. But it didn't get really intense until I was 16, when I switched to a bigger club for the first time. And because it worked straight away, I never stopped. I won the Nokere Koerse twice in a row as a junior. That's why it's still my favourite race today."
The career of Arne Marit
However, Arne had to give up another favourite hobby for cycling. In his youth, he had turned to art, painting and drawing, even taking lessons. "But there was no room for both cycling and painting alongside school." So he had to make a decision. Arne still indulges his artistic streak in other ways today: "I'm a coffee lover, I have a really good machine and I also try my hand at latte art." Otherwise, he spends his free time with his girlfriend. They like to plan trips together and spend a lot of time travelling. Globetrotters on and off the bike.
At home in the epicentre
The starting point for all activities is his home in Belgium. Even though his name sounds very Scandinavian, Arne Marit is urbelgian, just like his family. Having grown up in Vollezele and still living in the region, Arne knows the epicentre of Belgian cycling like the back of his hand. Oudenaarde, Geerardsbergen, Ninove, Ronse: the centres of the great classics are all just a stone's throw away. "I train here every day, I know the routes by heart. These roads have no secrets for me."
These roads have no secrets for me.
And that's exactly why he's supposed to strengthen the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe classics faction, which didn't really get off the ground last year. While his main task for the rest of the season will be to prepare sprints for Jordi Meeus and Danny van Poppel, he will be tasked with getting his captains as deep as possible into the finale on Belgium's cobbles. "I know the rules very well and want to help the boys get through the crucial sections safely. I want them to benefit from my experience."
Arne Marit Portrait
© Maximilian Fries
Arne is also hoping for one or two opportunities to appear as a rider who can win. Like on Mallorca. "If I get a chance, I'll grab it with both hands."
Next chance: the Volta Valenciana
And the next opportunity will come at the Volta Comunitat Valenciana from Wednesday to Sunday. As the fastest rider in the team, which otherwise consists of Remco Evenepoel, Giulio Pellizzari, Aleksandr Vlasov, Emil Herzog, Ben Zwiehoff and Giovanni Aleotti, the first stage could be one for the sprinters. Day two is a 17.2 kilometre time trial with some technical passages. Stages 3 and 4 will be hilly, with stage four in particular being highly relevant for the overall classification. And even the final day, although it has a flat finale, has two more climbs that could tear the peloton apart.
Arne Marit will be hoping that things remain calm, especially on the first stage. Then he could come into his own in the finale. Last year, he finished a stage of the race in second place.
