"Pro- or anti-Demi, pro- or anti-SD/Worx, pro- or anti-Visma?" Why Ten Dam is the perfect fit according to Zonneveld

In recent years, the Dutch women were often given a hard time after major tournaments, especially by national coach Loes Gunnewijk. Tactical mistakes, a team that doesn't want to cycle for each other, or leading women who don't give in... We have seen it all in recent years. Gunnewijk quit, and the KNWU ended up with former rider Ten Dam. In recent years, he has immersed himself in gravel cycling, even as director of the World Gravel Championship. The challenge he is taking on now is, however, slightly different.

"He has no formal training as a coach. He has never been behind the wheel of a team car. He has not seen many women's races up close. And he has no experience as a coach either - except for that one weekend at the last World Gravel Championships," Zonneveld summarizes. According to him, Ten Dam was not the first choice. "It was an arduous search to find the right candidate. Over the years, countless men and women have been asked or approached - almost all of them said no. It's not a high-paying job, and the risks of failure are high. The Dutch cycling women are usually so good through the season that in the orange shirt, only winning counts. And just try to build a team of riders who spend the rest of the year riding against each other."

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Ten Dam's task does not necessarily seem to improve the women individually. According to Zonneveld, he must forge a team to avoid the "crazy" situations of recent years. This is why it is important to have an unbiased coach. "The great danger would be that that person would choose sides. Pro—or anti-Demi, pro- or anti-SD/Worx, pro- or anti-Visma?"

"Ten Dam's greatest quality as a national coach is not that he is a tactical mastermind or that he can draw on textbook wisdom. It's in something else. In something fundamental but no less important. 'He is an incredibly nice guy," Zonneveld said. "He has no enemies - which is already a miracle in the small Dutch cycling world. He puts people at ease quickly, is approachable, is good at small talk, and can connect with people. No endless preliminary discussions, just beer and barbecue. Just what Dutch women need right now."