Four years ago, he wasn't a cyclist—he was building ships for the Navy—and now he's set to make his debut in the Tour de France

Before becoming a professional cyclist, Baptiste Veistroffer designed boats for the French Navy. Now, just four years after he started competing seriously in cycling, the Lotto-Intermarché rider is about to start his first Tour de France, one of the most surprising stories in this edition of the peloton.

He worked for the French Navy, discovered cycling four years ago, and now he will race the Tour

In statements to Domestique, the Frenchman admitted that he still struggles to grasp the speed with which his life has changed. “Sometimes I still can't believe it. If you know my past, I started as a professional three years ago and four years ago I started riding a bike. And now, four years later, I'm going to race the Tour de France. It's crazy,” he explained.

Regarding his goals in the race, he was equally clear: “The goal is to be in many breakaways. The big goal could be to win a stage. I know it's not impossible”. And regarding some rumors already swirling about his future, he added bluntly: “Right now I don't care. I'm going all in for the Tour. I'm not thinking about the nonsense that comes out in the newspapers. I just want to have the best Tour de France I can”.

From naval engineer to professional in record time

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Veistroffer's trajectory is far from the norm in modern cycling. While most riders reach the WorldTour after years in lower categories and development structures, he worked as an engineer specializing in boat construction for the French Navy.

His progression, however, was meteoric. In just a few years, he went from amateur cycling to professionalism and then to the highest international level. At 26 years old, he will now face the most important race on the calendar with the opportunity to showcase himself to a large audience.

Initially, the team's plans pointed to Veistroffer competing in the Giro d'Italia. However, Lotto-Intermarché changed its schedule and included him in the pre-selection for the Tour de France.

The final decision came after a training camp at altitude in Sierra Nevada and his good performances in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, where he convinced the sports directors that he deserved a spot in the lineup for the Grande Boucle.

The Tour as a showcase for his offensive style

Although his main role will be to work for the team's leaders, help the sprinters, and protect the riders destined for the toughest finishes, Veistroffer hopes to have the freedom to seek opportunities in the race.

His profile fits perfectly in medium and high mountain breakaways, a terrain where he has earned much of his reputation. The Frenchman is aware that entering a breakaway in the Tour is much more complicated than in any other race due to the enormous number of riders pursuing the same goal, but he faces the challenge with ambition.

Moreover, he hopes to take advantage of the support from the French public during the three weeks of competition. “I will use the fans to support me and give me extra power”, he assured.

Veistroffer's debut in the Tour coincides with the last year of his current contract, a situation that often generates speculation during the summer. However, the Frenchman insists that he does not want to waste energy thinking about next season.