Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s cyclists ready for exciting season
Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s cyclists have been presented to the press on Friday afternoon, the 9th of January in Rosmalen, The Netherlands. Just before the start of the speed skating season, the speed skaters of this unique sports team were presented, and since the 1st of January 2015, the cycling section has been an official part of Team LottoNL-Jumbo. The team consists of 12 speed skaters, 25 cyclists and will be active at the highest level during the entire year.
Winning together
TeamLottoNL-Jumbo is a typically Dutch professional top-level sports team that will be visible 365 days a year and will perform at the highest level. With the merging of a professional cycling team and a professional speed skating team a basis has been created for a new organizational model in the Dutch top-level sports. A model, which revolves around sharing knowledge, cross-pollination and the combining of efforts. Sportively, as well as commercially and communicatively.A new top-level sports culture will arise which – thanks to the sportive performances and a great appeal – will advertise ‘Dutch glory’ as an important value. With this, we will inspire a new generation of athletes and fans. Management, coaches and athletes will share their knowledge, will work together and will push each other to aim higher, with one goal: winning together!
Richard Plugge
“This is a fantastic collaboration, commercially, as well as sportively. The speed skating team, as well as the cycling team, are two of the Netherlands’ most innovative sports organizations. The combined efforts and cross-pollination are great advantages of this collaboration. The partnership with Pioneer is an excellent example of this. Pioneer already sponsored the cycling team, but the speed skaters are now also making use of the power meter developed by Pioneer, in collaboration with the cycling team. The interaction between the athletes is also an amazing thing to see. They really push each other to a higher level. The collaboration is also interesting at a commercial level. Our team will be visible 365 days of the year, this is something which is extremely attractive for sponsors. We really value the development of talents. Just like the speed skating team, we want to support young talents in their climb to the top. By obtaining several victories and titles, the speed skaters have already performed well this early in the season. We want to match up to those successes and surpass them. We are going to do our utmost to make it a fantastic year.”
Jac Orie
“During the Dutch National Championships, the speed skaters were cheered on by some of the cyclists, and there was an immediate click. This support was very important and our motto ‘winning together’ was unmistakably applicable. We are currently situated in the Innovation Factory, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands along with the management of the cycling team. The foundation for the collaboration has been laid. In the long term, and when it fits their schedules, the athletes will definitely start training together. If there are speed skaters who need to work on their endurance, they can do so with the cyclists. And during the Tour de France, for example, the non-selected cyclists can join us. There are numerous interesting opportunities.”
Nico Verhoeven
“Sep Vanmarcke will be our team leader during the spring Classics. Last year, he showed us what he is capable of, and we want to emulate that. During the Walloon Classics, our aim is to perform well with Robert Gesink and Wilco Kelderman. We want to compete for a podium place. As a Dutch team, we are looking forward to the Grand Départ in Utrecht. With Robert Gesink, Wilco Kelderman and Laurens ten Dam, we have three men who can ride a good GC. Steven Kruijswijk will aim for a good GC in the Giro d’Italia. He has already obtained a top ten classification in Italy. Moreno Hofland will focus on the sprint stages in the Giro d’Italia. Next to this, with Barry Markus and Tom Van Asbroeck at our disposal, we have a strong sprinting force.”
Johan Cruyff Institute
During the team presentation in Rosmalen, all of Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s cycling coaches received the ‘Master in Coaching’ diploma from the Johan Cruyff Institute. Merijn Zeeman, responsible for the coaches of the team, is proud of his men. “As a team, we are continually working on innovation. The Master in Coaching is a good example of this. A significant element of this program is self-development and becoming acquainted with yourself, which improves the collaboration and communication within the team. Those in the team who have a lot of experience in practice now also have a theoretical foundation. With this diploma, we can supervise the individual athlete better, but also guide the team, as a whole, to a higher level.”
Robert Gesink
“The Volta ao Algarve will be my first race of the season. The Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Basque Country will follow ahead of the Classics. The Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège are my first main goals. After this, I will aim my focus on the Tour de France. In preparation for the Tour de France, I will train at a high altitude and compete in the Tour de Suisse.”
Laurens ten Dam
“I think the Tour of California and the Volta a Catalunya are amazing races. When we ride there, I obviously want to do my utmost to perform at the highest level. However, I am a year older now and I’m becoming a bit ‘rustier.’ Starting a new season takes a bit more effort. The Tour de France is the main goal. These past years, I have improved each year, and that is my goal this year. Nevertheless, I’m realistic and I know that, at 34, improving might not be possible.”
Sep Vanmarcke
“My ambition this year is to win a spring Classic. I came close to winning several times last year, which makes me extra eager to win this season. The cobble stage in the Tour de France and the World Championships in Richmond are also on my list. For me, those races are the biggest challenges.”
Wilco Kelderman
“I want to take the next step this season, by winning, for example, a nice race. Naturally, I want to obtain a great place in the Tour de France’s GC this year. My aim is to perform well during the Time Trial in Utrecht. Next to this, I aspire to ride a constant season, with top ten classifications in smaller races.”
Steven Kruijswijk
“I want to continue last season’s good form and remain competitive at the highest level. My aim is a top ten classification in the Giro d’Italia and I want to do well in the Tour de France. Especially since the Grand Départ is in Utrecht.”
Moreno Hofland
Winning together
TeamLottoNL-Jumbo is a typically Dutch professional top-level sports team that will be visible 365 days a year and will perform at the highest level. With the merging of a professional cycling team and a professional speed skating team a basis has been created for a new organizational model in the Dutch top-level sports. A model, which revolves around sharing knowledge, cross-pollination and the combining of efforts. Sportively, as well as commercially and communicatively.A new top-level sports culture will arise which – thanks to the sportive performances and a great appeal – will advertise ‘Dutch glory’ as an important value. With this, we will inspire a new generation of athletes and fans. Management, coaches and athletes will share their knowledge, will work together and will push each other to aim higher, with one goal: winning together!
Richard Plugge
“This is a fantastic collaboration, commercially, as well as sportively. The speed skating team, as well as the cycling team, are two of the Netherlands’ most innovative sports organizations. The combined efforts and cross-pollination are great advantages of this collaboration. The partnership with Pioneer is an excellent example of this. Pioneer already sponsored the cycling team, but the speed skaters are now also making use of the power meter developed by Pioneer, in collaboration with the cycling team. The interaction between the athletes is also an amazing thing to see. They really push each other to a higher level. The collaboration is also interesting at a commercial level. Our team will be visible 365 days of the year, this is something which is extremely attractive for sponsors. We really value the development of talents. Just like the speed skating team, we want to support young talents in their climb to the top. By obtaining several victories and titles, the speed skaters have already performed well this early in the season. We want to match up to those successes and surpass them. We are going to do our utmost to make it a fantastic year.”
Jac Orie
“During the Dutch National Championships, the speed skaters were cheered on by some of the cyclists, and there was an immediate click. This support was very important and our motto ‘winning together’ was unmistakably applicable. We are currently situated in the Innovation Factory, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands along with the management of the cycling team. The foundation for the collaboration has been laid. In the long term, and when it fits their schedules, the athletes will definitely start training together. If there are speed skaters who need to work on their endurance, they can do so with the cyclists. And during the Tour de France, for example, the non-selected cyclists can join us. There are numerous interesting opportunities.”
Nico Verhoeven
“Sep Vanmarcke will be our team leader during the spring Classics. Last year, he showed us what he is capable of, and we want to emulate that. During the Walloon Classics, our aim is to perform well with Robert Gesink and Wilco Kelderman. We want to compete for a podium place. As a Dutch team, we are looking forward to the Grand Départ in Utrecht. With Robert Gesink, Wilco Kelderman and Laurens ten Dam, we have three men who can ride a good GC. Steven Kruijswijk will aim for a good GC in the Giro d’Italia. He has already obtained a top ten classification in Italy. Moreno Hofland will focus on the sprint stages in the Giro d’Italia. Next to this, with Barry Markus and Tom Van Asbroeck at our disposal, we have a strong sprinting force.”
Johan Cruyff Institute
During the team presentation in Rosmalen, all of Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s cycling coaches received the ‘Master in Coaching’ diploma from the Johan Cruyff Institute. Merijn Zeeman, responsible for the coaches of the team, is proud of his men. “As a team, we are continually working on innovation. The Master in Coaching is a good example of this. A significant element of this program is self-development and becoming acquainted with yourself, which improves the collaboration and communication within the team. Those in the team who have a lot of experience in practice now also have a theoretical foundation. With this diploma, we can supervise the individual athlete better, but also guide the team, as a whole, to a higher level.”
Robert Gesink
“The Volta ao Algarve will be my first race of the season. The Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of the Basque Country will follow ahead of the Classics. The Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège are my first main goals. After this, I will aim my focus on the Tour de France. In preparation for the Tour de France, I will train at a high altitude and compete in the Tour de Suisse.”
Laurens ten Dam
“I think the Tour of California and the Volta a Catalunya are amazing races. When we ride there, I obviously want to do my utmost to perform at the highest level. However, I am a year older now and I’m becoming a bit ‘rustier.’ Starting a new season takes a bit more effort. The Tour de France is the main goal. These past years, I have improved each year, and that is my goal this year. Nevertheless, I’m realistic and I know that, at 34, improving might not be possible.”
Sep Vanmarcke
“My ambition this year is to win a spring Classic. I came close to winning several times last year, which makes me extra eager to win this season. The cobble stage in the Tour de France and the World Championships in Richmond are also on my list. For me, those races are the biggest challenges.”
Wilco Kelderman
“I want to take the next step this season, by winning, for example, a nice race. Naturally, I want to obtain a great place in the Tour de France’s GC this year. My aim is to perform well during the Time Trial in Utrecht. Next to this, I aspire to ride a constant season, with top ten classifications in smaller races.”
Steven Kruijswijk
“I want to continue last season’s good form and remain competitive at the highest level. My aim is a top ten classification in the Giro d’Italia and I want to do well in the Tour de France. Especially since the Grand Départ is in Utrecht.”
Moreno Hofland
“I want to achieve a high level, just like I did during last year’s spring. This time, I want to uphold this until after the Tour of Flanders. Next to this, I wish to gain experience in the Classics. If possible, I want to obtain good results. After this, the Giro d’Italia is up. My aim is to obtain a stage victory and to complete the full three weeks. The National Championships are also a main goal for me.”
Watch our introduction video here: http://youtu.be/RvVO9v5GQwc
