'I'm a little bit older and wiser—and grayer': Arie Luyendyk, 36, reveals he's focused for The Bachelor... after being pegged a cad on The Bachelorette

Published: 17:55 GMT, 28 December 2017 | Updated: 18:54 GMT, 28 December 2017

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Fans last saw Arie Luyendyk Jr on Emily Maynard's season of the Bachelorette in 2012. He was coined the 'Kissing Bandit' due to his excessive lip-locking tendencies.

Now the 36-year-old is back as The Bachelor, which kicks off on January 1. 'I'm a little bit older and wiser—and grayer, but it’s good,' he told People.

Many viewers anticipated the next bachelor to be Peter Kraus— runner up on Rachel Lindsay's season of The Bachelorette—but the network threw a curve ball by choosing six-year vet Arie.

Throwback Bachelor: Arie Luyendyk Jr, who was on Emily Maynard's season of the Bachelorette in 2012, will now be The Bachelor and he told People he knows he's older, but he's also 'wiser'

'An amazing experience': The 22nd season of The Bachelor premieres January 1 on ABC

'People expected it to be Peter, so there was a negative reaction, but you’re always going to have that,' Luyendyk Jr. said.

'Not everybody is going to be a fan. What was important was that the women were on board.'

To no one's surprise, the Netherlands-born bachelor had no trouble charming the ladies.

'I fell in love with two women, and I didn’t know I was capable of that,' Arie added. 'I’ve never been in that situation, and it was really hard. And they were two very different women, and that’s what made it even harder.'

Mature: The 36-year-old is now 'a little bit older and wiser—and grayer, but it’s good,' he told People in an interview

The 6ft2in race-car driver called the ABC dating competition an 'amazing experience.'

'There were so many different types of women and so many different personalities. I think I learned that I can be very open and that I can be attracted to a lot of different types of people,' he said.

Four of the season 22 contestants work in real estate, like Luyendyk Jr. There's also a stylist, a restaurant owner, and an orthopedic nurse vying for his love.

Need for speed: The 6ft2in race-car driver called the ABC dating competition an 'amazing experience'

Last week the stadium super truck athlete revealed he remains the landlord and good friend to ex-girlfriend and fellow Arizona resident, Bachelor 16's Courtney Robertson.

The 28-year-old model romanced Arie on and off for years and gushed he was 'the best sex I've ever had,' to Us Weekly three months ago.

'The timing has never been right for us. The timing is right for him now,' Courtney told People.

Let's be friends: Bachelor 16's Courtney Robertson and Luyendyk dated on and off for years before he decided to return as the Bachelor

Nepotism: The X-Games bronze medalist - who also dated Bachelor 8's Selma Alameri - is the son of racing legend Arie Luyendyk Sr., who won the Indy 500 twice

The X-Games bronze medalist - who also dated Bachelor 8's Selma Alameri - is the son of racing legend Arie Luyendyk Sr., who won the Indy 500 twice.

The 22nd season of The Bachelor premieres January 1 on ABC.

The odds are against the silver fox, considering out of the 30-some betrothed duos from The Bachelor/The Bachelorette franchise, only seven couples remain together.