Just 20 years of age, Joeri is in his second season with our feeder squad, and has already racked up some results that turned heads.
Most recent of these was his fourth place in the U23 Paris-Roubaix, which came just a week after finishing on the podium at the Boucle de l’Artois. Together with the strong outings and remarkable fighting spirit displayed there, it showed that Joeri is a rider cut for the long and big efforts that the one-day races require from those hoping to make a name there.
This weekend, the Dutchman will pull on the Soudal Quick-Step jersey to race the Grand Prix Criquielion as part of a strong squad featuring Tim Merlier, one of the fastest sprinters in the world. Before he travelled to Belgium, we had a talk with Joeri about his first steps in cycling, racing for one of the best development teams in the world, what drives him to become better, and how he likes to relax when he’s not on the bike.
“I started cycling around the age of four, after seeing my brother develop an interest in it. I then got a mountain bike and began having fun on it in the forest. When I was eight, I began combining mountain biking with road cycling, and later also did some track cycling.“
Being on my mountain bike was something incredible, it gave me an amazing feeling of freedom.
“At the same time, it brought out my competitive side. I discovered that I want to win races, that I want to become better, and while having fun on the bike I also developed my skills on the bike. In my youth, I was quite a big fan of Peter Sagan, as I liked the way he was racing, the wheelies he did on the bike, and the different celebrations he pulled out of the hat on the finish line.
Then, a few years ago, I became U17 National Champion and shortly after I got contacted by the team, who invited me to join the team for a training camp in December. That was my first experience with the Wolfpack, a dream coming true to be in Spain with all those incredible riders. It was quite a big thing for me, to ride alongside those guys that before then I was used to seeing on TV. To be at dinner with them, to talk with them and be treated as a pro was unique and something that showed me that was the place I should be in.“
Racing for Soudal Quick-Step Devo
“My first season with the team was a difficult one, as I didn’t know what to expect from being in the U23 ranks. I was confident in myself, I believed I could repeat what I did as a junior, but soon I realized it wasn’t that easy. I didn’t have the results I wanted, but it meant a lot to have the squad support me and help regain my confidence. Thanks to this, I could see some progress, and in the last part of the season I began feeling better on the bike and featured in the finale of different races. That was important to me, as it was good to go into the winter with a better feeling.”
In that off-season I worked hard, did a lot of training and tried to improve as much as possible as a rider and a person.
“I became more mature, began seeing cycling differently and felt that something changed, including my mindset, and everything went in a good direction since. If I wanted something, I decided to go for it and this is something that drives me.
Racing with the World Tour team this season in Monseré and Limburg was great. For the former I got a call just two days after competing in the Youngster Coast Challenge and it was something that made me very happy, as it had been a goal of mine to get selected for a race with the World Tour squad. I got to learn a lot from those guys, who were willing to teach us a lot of things, and this is one of the things that I love about this team. One thing that I want to improve is the way I race, because sometimes I spend too much energy in the wrong moments.”
Taking on the “Hell of the North” - The Espoirs version
“Paris-Roubaix has always been a race that I liked, ever since my junior days. I love the cobbles, I love how hectic it is there, and how you go full gas from the start. This year, I found myself at the back of the peloton on the cobbles a few times early in the race, then had to jump from group to group and spend energy, but I survived all the cobbled sections, didn’t have any mechanical issues, and towards the end I managed to bridge to the first group together with Jasper.
At one point, I wasn’t even sure that it was the lead group, that’s how chaotic it was. I entered the velodrome with confidence, as I have some track experience, but I made a small tactical mistake, without which I could have been on the podium. On the other hand, it was a useful experience from which I learned as soon as the race finished. Paris-Roubaix is a huge race and I would love to win it as a pro. It will be one of my main goals, but not the only one, as I also dream about becoming World Champion one day.
Cycling is my main passion, it’s what pushes me all the time. I’m focused on becoming better, on improving, on helping the team whenever they need me. I have a lot of goals for this season, which is still long, but I want to take it one race at a time. But if I were to name one, it would be the National Championships, because I would love to get a strong result there.”
Life off the bike
“When I’m not on my bike, I like to relax by listening to music or cooking. I like to cook a lot for my parents and brother, from poke bowls to all kinds of pasta. When I’m in the kitchen, I love to vary a bit, try something new all the time, experiment and level up my cooking skills.“
“Another passion of mine is traveling. I enjoy exploring new places on the bike, be it the road one or the gravel bike. It’s one of the best things out there!“
One of my favorite places to be is Spain, and especially, Calpe.
“That really is a great place to be. I always feel relaxed there, it doesn’t matter if I’m with the team or by myself, the feeling is the same. I dig the vibe that this place gives you, I like the hills, which are perfect for riding and enjoying the Spanish sun. Calpe is close to my heart, and it’s always great to return there.“
Photo credit: ©Wout Beel
©Luc Claessen / Getty Images
