🇧🇪 Serge Pauwels becomes Head Coach Men's Road, while Angelo De Clercq is the new National Coach Cyclo-cross. 👉 Read more: bit.ly/4euYv6n #BelgianCycling
Philippe Gilbert upset after missing out on national coach job with Belgian federation, but Uijtdebroeks is happy
CyclingThursday, 14 November 2024 at 09:25
Serge Pauwels becomes the new Belgian national coach for road cyclists, while Angelo De Clercq takes on the role of national coach for cyclo-cross riders. The 40-year-old Pauwels and 32-year-old De Clercq will replace Sven Vanthourenhout, who left Belgian Cycling after the 2024 World Championships. So, there is no Philippe Gilbert, who was a candidate for the national team.
Pauwels was already part of the Belgian team as national coach of the Junior Men. Now, the former Belgian rider is making the step up and will become the national coach of the Elite and U23 Men. Angelo De Clercq will assist Pauwels and take on the role of talent coach for the Junior Men on the road. In addition, De Clercq will become the new national coach for cyclo-cross riders.
"We want to keep Belgian Cycling at the same level in the coming years," states chairman Tom Van Damme. "We are convinced we can consolidate the top places with this new structure. In any case, our operation will have no cutbacks in top sports."
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When Serge Pauwels was still a cyclist
Pauwels and De Clercq honored with their new roles
Pauwels feels enormously honored to take on his new role. "Especially now that we have one of the strongest generations of Belgians ever. I'm also looking forward to having juniors I've worked with in recent seasons in the higher categories on the team again in the coming years so that I can also experience their trajectory further."
De Clercq - who already served as interim team coach during the last European cyclo-cross championships - is also delighted. "I like the opportunity to combine two disciplines, road and field. There is also an overlap between the two disciplines. We saw in recent years that good cyclo-cross riders have become good road riders. We would like to preserve the Belgian cyclo-cross culture of the past few decades and expand and improve it even further. I find that a nice challenge."
Belgian Cycling is not finished with this because more spots remain to fill. A new Director of Topsport will be appointed, and the National Mountain Bike Coach role still needs to be filled. Changes will also follow on the track, as Kenny De Ketele will step down as national coach at the end of December.
Gilbert reacts fiercely, De Cauwer rather satisfied
With the promotion of Pauwels, Belgian Cycling did not listen to Gilbert's open application. The former world champion reacted; therefore, he was anything but satisfied with his Instagram account. "I cherished the hope to become a national coach and to share my experience and passion with the current generation," he began his story. "The position was never open; the internal arrangements at Belgian Cycling prevailed over my application. I want to thank the many enthusiastic riders and the countless people who supported me."
At Sporza, cycling analyst José De Cauwer emphasized that he understands Pauwels's choice. "He has worked as an assistant with Sven Vanthourenhout and knows the ins and outs of the union. So, it is the most logical choice. It will remain to be seen whether he is the right choice in addition to the rational choice, but I think he has sufficient knowledge of modern cycling."
Cian Uijtdebroeks of Visma | Lease a Bike looks forward to working with Pauwels, whom he already knows well. 'He has a lot of qualities, and he has already proven that in his youth. "The best thing we have already done together is the Tour de l'Avenir. That was a project we addressed together long beforehand," the young climber looks back on his 2022 final victory. "Serge is someone who makes a plan for that and figures everything out calmly. During the race, he also keeps his feet on the ground. He was a real top coach to have with me, which will be no different for other riders."
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024