Handle
De Lachende Rijder
Base
The Hague or Girona
Terrain
Gravel, but the road is always special too.
Three words
Courageous, smiling & adventurous
The story
I started as a young boy who simply loved riding, and before I knew it, I "suddenly" became a pro. Everything rolled along so smoothly that I found myself lining up for the Tour de France! After some wonderful years in the WorldTour (WT), I’ve decided it’s time for new adventures on the bike, which will always play a huge role in them.
My rides frequently start in The Hague, which tought me to anticipate well in busy traffic because I have done so from an early age. That also helped me with avoiding crashes because I learned to look ahead and calculate risks well in advance. Whenever I am not starting from the Hague it is from Girona.
What is next?
I mainly want to enjoy the bike this year. Race without expectation or results. Do something wild once in a while but with no strings attached.
Sidekick: Who you share the road with?
By my side (since we were 12 years old!) is my ultimate sidekick, Martin Pluto. Fifteen years later, we are still sharing the roads together.
The spot: Your ultimate place to ride?
Girona remains one of my favorite places on earth. It has everything that makes me happy: stunning nature, kind people, a perfect climate, and an endless web of roads and gravel paths. Plus, the drivers are respectful, which makes it a cyclist's paradise.
Gear pick: The one BBB product you never leave without
I’ve already become best friends with my new helmet (Karma Mips). It’s the one thing you definitely don’t want to leave at home! ;)
