Nathan van Hooydonck looks forward to new role at Team Visma | Lease a Bike: ‘Grateful for the opportunities the team gives me’
A year ago, Nathan van Hooydonck was forced to end his cycling career at the age of 27 due to heart problems. After a career full of sporting successes as a rider for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, he remained closely involved with the team as a hospitality employee during races. Now, he is taking on a new role within the commercial team.
As a Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider, Van Hooydonck achieved some impressive results in the spring classics. In addition, he played an essential role in the overall victories of Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic in the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España. Last year, however, disaster struck: on September 12, 2023, he was involved in a car accident caused by a heart attack. It marked the sudden end of a promising professional career.
Throughout the last cycling season, Van Hooydonck was often present at races in a new role, guiding VIP guests to provide them with an unforgettable experience in the riders' footsteps. From Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to the Tour de France. “Guiding the hospitality guests during the races played a big role in my processing,” says Van Hooydonck. “In the months after the accident, I found it difficult to accept that I was no longer a rider. Being present at the races frequently helped me tremendously.”
After a season in hospitality, Van Hooydonck is ready for a new step as an employee of the commercial department. “I am someone who wants to keep challenging myself in the business field,” says Van Hooydonck. “A job in the commercial team of Team Visma | Lease a Bike is the ideal step in my development. Last November, Richard Plugge and commercial director Sander Kruis already proposed it to me, but I wasn't ready yet. After the last Tour de France, we talked about it again. Then we set up a plan where I got the chance to get to know the commercial department and its way of working, from partnerships and merchandise to communication. My interests are broad, so I want to wait a bit before deciding what suits me best. After that, we can decide what role I will take on precisely. But I love engaging with existing and new partners. We, as a team, have a great story, and I love creating value for our partners through our team. I enjoy personal contact, so I like visiting potential new partners.”
"I feel a strong bond with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. I feel safe here."
Finally, Van Hooydonck emphasizes his gratitude to the team. “I feel a strong bond with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. I feel safe here. If you perform well as a rider, you are always valuable to a team, and they will do everything to keep you. Once you stop, those abilities are gone. That is why I am grateful to the team, and especially Richard and Sander, that they also see the value in me as a person. They look beyond just the rider Nathan van Hooydonck, and that is special.”
