Name: Kurt Van Der Sickel
Age: 56 years
Residence: Zulte (Belgium)

How long have you been a member of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Fan Peloton? 
"Right from the start, which must have been about three years ago. It was mainly the total package that made me decide to become a member. As a Belgian, I'm a big fan of Wout van Aert, but to be honest, I like all the riders and staff members of the men's and women's teams. I love seeing how they work together and how they apply team tactics."

Have you already been to an event yet?
"No, unfortunately not yet. I do plan to go to the sales days in Den Bosch, but due to work commitments, I haven't been able to go yet. Besides the fact that I like to see what your head quarters looks like, it's the perfect time to buy some nice stuff."

What do you like most about being a member?
"That I can follow everything. As a cycling fan watching the Giro, Tour, or Vuelta, you have no idea what's going on besides the race and why someone is having a bad day. Because everything is filmed, you get to know exactly what's going on. There's often more to it than just sitting on your bike and pedaling. Cycling is a mental sport. I find that interesting to see.

I also really like the WhatsApp groups that are created especially for the grand tours. In these group chats, you get all kinds of content sent to you and you can chat with other fans."

What makes Team Visma | Lease a Bike so special to you?
"Team Visma | Lease a Bike is one big family, and I enjoy being a small part of it. When you see how the riders work for each other, you can only admire them. What I also really appreciate is the accessibility during a race. When I go to a race, the people from Team Visma | Lease a Bike are always up for a chat."

Who is your favorite cyclist on the team? 
"I'm a big fan of Wout. When he won the last stage of the Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees, I cried for a moment. I thought it was really great that he won that stage after all the setbacks he's had. Despite everything, he remains a regular guy. He stays true to himself, he's funny, and he's also a good dad to his kids. Even if he doesn't win, he's adored here."

Suppose you could ask him anything. What would you want to know? 
"I hope he continues for a long time and wins a number of monuments, but I'm curious to know if he already has a plan for after his career."

What is your affinity with cycling?
"I've had a great passion for cycling since I was young. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, I also competed in some lower-level races. I never won, but I enjoyed racing. I still cycle today, but I don't have as much time for it because of my work. I would like to cycle more."

What would make membership even better for you? 
“I would really like it if there was a meet & greet organized once a year where all the riders could attend. I would sign up for that right away. Otherwise, I am very satisfied with my membership."

Do you want to become member of the Fan Peloton? Join it via this link.