Belgian athlete Sandrine Tas, who narrowly missed a medal in the 5,000 meter speed skating event at the Winter Olympics, has announced her decision to concentrate on her cycling career with the Lotto-Intermarché team.
According to a report from Wielerflits, Sandrine Tas fell just 13 hundredths of a second short of securing a medal in the 5,000 meter event during the Winter Games. Despite this near success on the ice, Tas has confirmed that her sporting focus will now shift predominantly to road cycling. Speaking from Milan, she explained that while she may occasionally skate, these sessions will be limited to training purposes related to cycling rather than competition.
Throughout the Winter Olympics, Tas competed in several speed skating events, including the 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters—where she achieved a fourth-place finish—and team pursuit, with plans to participate in the mass start event as well. However, the future will see her prioritize cycling as part of her professional journey with the Lotto-Intermarché Ladies team.
Grace Verbeke, Tas’ coach and former Tour of Flanders winner, emphasized a cautious approach to her transition. She noted that Tas will take time to rest and process the Olympic experience before returning to competition, which is anticipated for late April, potentially in one of the Ardennes classics. Verbeke highlighted Tas’ promising performance in time trials and her eighth-place finish in the recent Belgian National Championships road race, despite challenges on a hilly finish.
Verbeke expressed optimism about Tas’ potential, indicating that her current performance metrics are solid and with further development, she could progress significantly. Though Tas has primarily competed in flat races to date, there is curiosity about how she might fare on longer climbs, which could influence how her career evolves as a cyclist.
Prior to joining Lotto-Intermarché, the 30-year-old Tas raced for the club team Belco/Van Eyck, where she achieved multiple victories last year. She also secured second place in the Belgian elite time trial championships for riders without a contract and was eighth in the professional national road race, demonstrating her capability among higher-ranked competitors. These results earned her a contract with the professional women’s team Lotto Intermarché Ladies.
