In conversation with Jenco Drost: 'We are always looking for the best equipment'
He has been working as Head of Performance Equipment since 2021 and helps ensure that the riders' bikes are in the best shape. Jenco Drost joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike after studying mechanical engineering and now combines his two great passions there, cycling and technology. "This is the ultimate job for me."
You have now been working as Head of Performance Equipment at Team Visma | Lease a Bike for three years. Could you explain what this role is about?
"I am mainly working on innovations in equipment. On the one hand, I talk to our partners about how we can improve the equipment and on the other hand, we try to apply the equipment we get in the best possible way. For this, I am in close contact with the mechanics. When a new product has come in, we get together and I show them how to use it. It is important that the mechanics do everything in the same way, so there can be no confusion. So the bit of structuring and giving advice is also part of my package of tasks."
Equipment is a very widely used term. What kind of equipment do you mainly deal with?
"Everything you need to put on a bike. Wheels, tyres, chains, lubricant on the chain, wax etcetera. I focus purely on the bike and the people who have to work with it."
You just mentioned the word ‘innovations’. Can you explain what you mean by that?
"By innovations, I mean looking for new material and for partners that could be interesting for the team. It is also possible that I test interesting things from our partners. It's not that we always look for a new partner directly, but we try to improve together."
"It's my job to stay in constant dialogue and suggest improvements."
What is the procedure when you have found something interesting?
"When I have found something interesting, I contact the relevant partner and ask if I can test the product. If I actually find it an improvement, I hand it over to the commercial team. They ultimately decide whether we want to enter into an agreement or buy it. If it is not an improvement materially, we will not partner with it. That's a standard rule."
What if it really turns out to be an improvement? What happens next?
"First I inform all the mechanics and explain why we have made this choice. Sometimes we invite the new partner to talk about the product. When it is all done, I immediately go back to see where we can improve. It's my job to stay in constant dialogue and suggest improvements. We are not the number one team in the world for nothing so we want to stay that way."
Do you also consult with the riders?
"I give an advice to the riders and that is the best advice. Of course they are free to make a different choice, but then we indicate that it may have consequences. Some riders ask why we chose something and then we have good evidence to convince them. It is always good to talk about it. In the end, it's up to the riders themselves what they want."
What makes this work so fun?
"It is great to be involved with the finest and best equipment available. Team Visma | Lease a Bike is an interesting company and we are on 24/7 in a healthy way. Everyone on this team wants to win and improve. That's pleasant to work with."
How often are you at the High Performance Centre?
"Usually I try to be there two days a week. The other days I work from home and sometimes I go along to the races. The first spring classics are particularly interesting, so we have immediate feedback for the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. I also go along to training camps at the beginning of the year to discuss our material with the riders. During training camps you can often pick up unforced feedback."
The season is almost over now. Are you already working on the next one?
"Yes, but I have to be. If I see something now and I want to apply it next year, I'm probably already too late. The processing time for stuff is long. For example, we are already working on the Tour de France: what are the most important stages and what can we adjust in terms of equipment? It is important to constantly keep looking far ahead so that we can make optimisations time after time."
With what goals and intentions are you going into the new season?
"One of the main goals is to stay on top in terms of material. We also want to offer riders the fastest bikes and outsmart our competitors. If I see something new at another team, I feel I haven't done well. The trick is to make sure you are the first to have something new. That doesn't always work out, but that's the goal."
