Our technical and development manager talked about his role and what it means being part of Soudal Quick-Step.
“It is now four weeks ahead of the Tour de France, from which I will head straight to the Olympic Games. My days right now are very busy with planning. This week we have the Dauphine, next week the Tour de Suisse, then the Nationals, and everything needs planning in advance, because we rush from A to B to C.
My job title is Technical and Development manager. I am not a fan of the title but most of what I do is about the technical aspect of the material of the team. I am usually working in the background and don’t see the limelight but it's what I do.
I was a continental level rider for several years but I realised that I couldn’t make it as a professional. I had the opportunity to work part-time with a young development team and spent the other half working in a bike shop. In 2012, one of the Soudal Quick-Step mechanics (Kurt Roose) contacted me and asked if I would like to join the team, which I jumped at.
To do this job you have to have a very precise mindset and I try to do my work as perfectly as possible. I push the group of mechanics that we have to do the same thing and they know it is the right way to be. We have a great group of mechanics, across a wide age range and experience, but we all work well together.
We have a very close relationship with Specialized and we are involved with them from the very beginning of every new project. They always ask us to share our ideas or how we think products can develop, and from there they often make prototypes and models. It can take up to two years from there to come to a full product, but it's very satisfying when that happens – I love seeing new products and the details, and it's why we love working with Specialized.
It is the same with lots of other partners too; the relationship we have with Shimano, Oakley, Ceramic Speed and Castelli all make it feel like one big family. We work with all of them on the details and product development, and I think we are quite flexible as a team and open to working with them, which is why they choose us.
After twelve years with the team, I couldn’t pick a favourite moment. There have been so many. I love being in the race car; I love what I do! I spend a little too much time behind a laptop nowadays, but then I get to be in the race car, like I will do here at the Dauphiné or at the Tour de France this year, which is what I love the most. There are so many moments but just being part of this is what I love.”
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
