Month: November 2017

Thymen Arensman: “In the Academy everything is more serious and professional”

Thymen Arensman: “In the Academy everything is more serious and professional”

Cyclocross, time trials, punchy climbs... Thymen Arensman can do it all! The 17-year old joined the Academy this winter and he is training ahead of his first season in the U23 ranks "I noticed already in my first weeks with the Academy that everything is a lot more serious and professional, and that will make me a better rider" highlights the Dutch youngster. Arensman is having a great winter in the Cyclocross circuit as he finished in seventh place in the last WorldCup round in Zeven in his first year in the U23 category.…continue reading →
Van den Berg: “My goal for 2018? Easy, winning”

Van den Berg: “My goal for 2018? Easy, winning”

"My goal for this season is winning!". That is Julius van den Berg's aim for 2018, you can say it louder but you won't be make it any more clear. With former teammate and friend Fabio Jakobsen moving to Quick-Step, the current U23 Dutch National TT champion will kick off his fourth season with the Academy and will be left as the only rider that has been with the team ever since its inception. The ambitious 22-year old youngster, who was fourth in the Olympia's Tour GC, is developing himself into a very…continue reading →
De Vries: “I had the perfect racing program at the Academy”

De Vries: “I had the perfect racing program at the Academy”

Hartthijs de Vries made his way to the Pro Ranks as he will be racing for the Dutch Pro Continental squad Team Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij, but 2017 was a tough one for the talented Dutchman: “It was a year of ups and downs. I had that accident while training and also I was ill some times for quite a long time, so all in all it was not the best possible scenario” points out De Vries. Despite the setbacks, the 21-year old Dutchman proved his mental toughness and managed to achieve some notable results…continue reading →
George Stavrakakis will complete the Academy’s roster for 2018

George Stavrakakis will complete the Academy’s roster for 2018

We are happy to welcome Georgios Stavrakakis to our 2018 roster. The 19-year old, who claimed the 2016 Junior European Individual Pursuit title, had been already for followed by our Performance Staff for a long period of time. Academy Manager Bart van Haaren comments on the signing of George Stavrakakis, the first ever Greek rider on the team:“Georgios is a very talented rider. After joining our January training camp in 2017, we made up a long term plan together. We advised and helped Georgios to move himself to Belgium and to join a…continue reading →
Meeus: “It feels like I could make some big steps in the coming months”

Meeus: “It feels like I could make some big steps in the coming months”

Jordi Meeus joined the team as a trainee last August the 1st and is now set to begin his first complete year with the Academy. The 19-year old made his move from Belgium's Acrog-Balen BC team after kicking off 2017 in top shape and getting some wins along the way. "I am grateful that I could do a traineeship with the team last season. I got to know my teammates and staff and I got the chance to gain some experience in bigger races" highlights the Belgian youngster. Meeus, who finished the season in…continue reading →
Team building training camp recap

Team building training camp recap

Last weekend team building training camp featured the first get-together of the squad that will represent the Academy throughout the 2018 season. A weekend packed with bonding activities helped staff, riders and management to come closer and for the new faces of the team it was a great change to get-to-know everybody. For the first time ever and powered by Tacx, the Academy did its own testing protocol to the riders. The aim of this testing protocol was to give the best possible feedback to the Performance Staff to work on each rider's training plan…continue reading →