We recognized him immediately when he passed us on a VLM cross: the short-shaven fresh head, wasn't that the cyclocrosser from the Kempen? Vice-world champion? Won the Kasteelcross? Exactly, Rob Peeters. We thought he ended up on a cross by chance. On a subsequent occasion we saw him standing in cross-gear. He rode with the hobby riders. A few weeks ago, a result. Newcomers C, won by Rob Peeters ……..
Rob, we're not going to talk about your cyclocross career but about that second one, the motocross. How did you get into this?
Rob Peeters: “Actually, it goes without saying. I was only 4 years old when I went to see the then BLM with my dad. That was with the strong generation of amateurs such as Vic Bylemans, Flor Duts. And my dad François. In 1995 he stopped after having broken almost everything in his body. But in the meantime the cross virus had settled in”.
Yes, go and watch, we understand that. But you start racing yourself at a later age?
Peeters: “Oh but that’s no coincidence. I always said that after cyclocross I would do motocross. The bike was hung up, traded in for the cross bike took its place. At first I only rode for relaxation, but the competitive urge was still there with me. I wanted to compete. So I took a license with VLM”.
Cyclocross and motocross, seems logical to me. Many similarities?
Peeters: “Actually, not that much. Motocross is a lot harder than cyclocross. The track or conditions in cyclocross don’t change that much during a race. In motocross, the circuit is never the same as the previous lap. Every little track can have changed. I did take one thing from my cyclocross career. I always look one corner ahead, so to speak. That technique helps me choose the best lines. I can choose tracks well and get there too.”
You're turning 40, do you need to train extra to get in shape?
Peeters: “Training? It doesn’t happen during the season. I’m a self-employed painter. Plenty of work, always done late. Then there’s my family with our daughter Nena who goes dancing. Tuur is a shotter, and our Siem, well, he’s a crosser. And now that I think about it, I’m in reasonable physical shape because I kept on cross-country skiing with our Siem all winter. Rain or shine, mud or no mud, the engines were started. That’s how I stayed fit and I put in many hours on the bike. And I sometimes go jogging. Very occasionally”.
Is Rob Peeters a crosser with ambition?
Peeters (resolutely): “You bet yes! But that ambition only came last season. Without thinking about it, I was third in the championship of my class at one point. And then the competitive animal in Rob Peeters rears its head. In 2025, Rob will go for the title in his class!”
Tekst: Leon Van Gestel
Photos: Marc Meeus, Jo Nijs, MX Grietje and FR Pictures
