Get real(istic)
What a mind-blowing last few weeks of racing in the pumping heart of international cycling. The supporters are out again, the beer has never tasted better and the sun has been shining(!) in Belgium for months.
This is Champions League. It is years and years of experience needed amongst riders, staff and partners to succeed result-wise. We did not get any win, nor any podiums. For sure we came close, but in these races it has to come all together. At once.
Rasmus Tiller, Susanne Andersen, Tobias Johannessen, Jonas Gregaard + many more. We have a great collection of talented riders, but we will not win in the Champions League in our first attempt. I do not think about which riders we need to get stronger, I think about what we can do make our current riders perform even better. A system always looking for what you do not have, is a system in trouble.
Uno-X is inspired by Ajax. We are not taking shortcuts by investing in riders just because they are top-10 in the Flanders Classics. We are investing in riders we believe are right for our identity and purpose.
Look at Jonas Gregaard.
3,5 years at Astana, 4 months at Uno-X. That lad is just a big smile. «Jens, let’s stay on this path. We will take the steps. Get good people onboard and we will get stronger day-by-day.».
I was doing the pre-race with him ahead of the L-B-L (glad he kept the talking going). Jonas came 28th in his first L-B-L one day later. 28th you say?! Well, look at the riders hanging around Jonas Gregaard in L-B-L, Anders Skaarseth in P-R and Susanne Andersen in G-W. It is pure world-class.
So let’s get real and continue to learn.
“In my opinion, an evaluation has to be done to make the team better, to increase the performance of not only the riders, but also us as coach and/or DS. In other words, how we can improve as individuals, how we can improve as a team.”
Gino Van Oudenhove (Head DS in the Classics) in his send-out of the evaluation request to riders and staff this week.
A diversion at the end. My oldest son is 7 years old. He loves cycling in the nearby forest with the big boys and he hangs around for hours in the pump tracks every day now. He lives to play another day and of course he wears Sweet Protection, but there is one very important matter. It has to be pink clothing. Because Johannes Høsflot Klæbo wears pink.
Johannes – you are a fantastic role model. I hope and expect that you are acknowledged for your values more than your results. You’ve won five Olympic Gold medals, but first and foremost you are the one handing out medals at the club event in Byåsen IL for the next generation of skiers when the papers with the Feds are still to be signed.
You have my outmost respect and thanks for being a role model, colleague and friend.
