Fan Peloton talk: 'It's great to see how the team has developed over the last few years'
In our column ‘Fan Peloton talk’, we put members of the Fan Peloton in the spotlight. Who are they, why do they feel connected to Team Visma | Lease a Bike and who is their favourite rider? In this episode, we have a chat with Olivier Mulders.
Name: Olivier Mulders
Residence: Berchem (Belgium)
Age: 63
Why did you become a member of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Fan Peloton?
"I'm a big fan of the team and the riders who are part of it. When you see where you came from and what you've achieved, it's an incredible story. Through my membership, I want to show my support for Team Visma | Lease a Bike."
Can you name a few things you get as a fan?
"I regularly order clothing from the webshop, which I'm very happy with. What I also like is that after winning a major tour, special T-shirts are released on the market, which we get a discount on. I really liked the T-shirt from the unique trilogy."
What makes Team Visma | Lease a Bike so special to you?
"I think it's great to see how the team has developed in recent years. The riders are being taken to a higher level and the right atmosphere is being created within the team. I find that fascinating to see. What I also find interesting is that the Tour selection is announced early in the year. When you know which names are going to participate, you follow those riders even more closely and hope that they make it to the start of the Tour unscathed."
"During Paris-Roubaix, I always stand on the sidelines wearing my Visma | Lease a Bike jacket."
Have you ever been to an event of the team?
"Not yet, but I definitely plan to attend a premiere or a sales day. During Paris-Roubaix, I always stand on the sidelines wearing my Visma | Lease a Bike jacket. In winter, I regularly go to cyclo-cross races to cheer on Wout van Aert."
Who is your favourite cyclist on the team?
"Wout van Aert. I find it very admirable how he led Simon Yates to victory in the Giro d'Italia. Wout is a true gentleman, is kind and respectful towards the other riders. He is an intelligent guy, shows a lot of commitment and is willing to put himself second to someone else. I think those are great qualities. I'm also secretly a fan of Jonas Vingegaard. He never gives up, is discreet and keeps both feet on the ground. Moreover, he is very respectful towards the other riders."
Suppose you could ask him something. What would you like to know?
"I would like to know how they manage to be so good and why the vibe in the team is so good. The Beatles also took themselves to a higher level. That's the magic of bringing personalities together. The secret behind it has not been discovered. Why does it work for one team and not for another?"
What is your affinity with cycling?
"I am a real cycling enthusiast and have been cycling for at least thirty years. I used to need an outlet, and that was cycling. I rode a number of races with the amateurs, covering about 70 kilometres at an average speed of 40 kilometres per hour. That was great fun. In recent years, I've been following the races more closely because I'm more involved with the team. That's partly due to the WhatsApp groups that exist. A lot of photos and videos are shared there, but people can also respond to each other. That's a new dimension."
What would make your membership even better?
"I'm very happy with my membership. Of course, I dream of riding in the support car one day, but you have to be lucky enough to be selected. Other than that, I have nothing to complain about. I plan to continue following the team as closely as possible in the coming years."
Do you want to become member of the Fan Peloton? Join it via this link.
