Michael Velkeneers' new passion
Michael Velkeneers, son of eight-time GP winner Marc, was himself a great talent as a youth cross rider. However, after Michael hung up his helmet in 2016, he found a new passion on two wheels: cycling. The Truienaar is also committed to his new challenge 100%. Or what did you think!
Velkeneers is now 26, but he has already come a long way in the sport. First as a motocross rider and for the past four years on a bicycle. The engine noise disappeared, but the drive is still there, as is the support from his sporty family.
Michael's top feat this summer: from Ostend to Sint-Truiden and back. That day he drove no less than 450 kilometers. With his memorable ride, on one of the hottest days of the year, Velkeneers and his companions drew attention to Fighters Against Cancer (FAC), an annual benefit that fights against childhood cancer.
Were you already an avid cyclist during your motorsport career?
Michael Velkeneers: “Yes, certainly, especially because I have a driver in the family. My niece's husband, Timothy Stevens (Acrog-Tormans BC/CX) was already riding a race and so I went with him when he went cycling. It has only grown from there. In June, together with my good comrade Ruben Putzeys, I founded my own cycling club, which became the Kadans Cycle Club. Due to injuries, cycling is also the ideal sport for me because walking was no longer possible.”
In recent weeks you have appeared here and there in the regional press. Each with impressively long bike rides. It reminded us of the feats of Cedric Grobben and Nolan Cordens.
Velkeneers: “Cedric's solo tour was indeed a great achievement! When the Corona lockdown started, me and Ruben suddenly had a lot of time and we wanted to do something fun to look forward to. That's how we first came up with the idea of doing a 1.000 kilometer week. We had planned three special rides, each with some tourist attractions. We also planned a Tour of Limburg. But the funny thing was that someone else had driven it first. Unfortunately! We were supposed to ride on Thursday but due to my work we had to postpone in the end. That evening I received a message: “You had a very nice ride, it was worth riding them.” After all, we had already put the ride itself on Strava, but we never thought that someone would start it sooner!”
But you completed the 1000 kilometer week with a few days delay?
Velkeneers: "Beats. On Monday we did the tour of Limburg with two people. A ride of 314 kilometers. On Wednesday we did a monument ride. Departure from Sint-Truiden to the Atomium, then to the Muur van Geraardsbergen and from there via the Leeuw van Waterloo back home. On Friday we went from our home to Houffalize - where Cadans' favorite café, café Coureur in Borgloon, will open a B&B next year - and then drive on to the final of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It would normally take place at that time. That was also good for 280 kilometers and 4.800 meters of elevation gain. Because we tried to drive those 1.000 kilometers in a fun way, we also made the local news with it. In the end it was a week of 1.100 kilometers!”
How did you build up to those marathon rides? Days of 180 kilometers or more are not so obvious.
Velkeneers: “Before the corona crisis, this was very intuitive. We feel like going cycling today, okay let's go! Actually, we were never concerned with kilometers. Last year we cycled to the sea for the first time. After 100 kilometers we thought, “now we are dead!”. This year our first ride was up and down to Antwerp, good for 200 kilometers. From there we started to build up, each time a little further. You don't drive 300 kilometers straight away. You start with 100 km, then 150 km and so on. Without even noticing it, I now cycle five times a week - with the cycling club and two days when I teach for the Flemish Cycling School - and I quickly cover kilometers without having to put in much effort. By the end of this year I would like to have 20.000 kilometers on the odometer!”
What should you pay attention to if you want to do longer work as a novice cyclist?
Velkeneers: “Build up well and listen to your own body. Once you have sufficient base and you are faced with such a long ride, you only have to think about one thing: enough food and drink. As long as there is 'fuel' going into your body, you can keep going. If you can no longer eat, or you notice that you are hungry or thirsty, then you are too late. However, you also have to dose something, of course. Eating too much is also not efficient, but you know that you need to consume about 90 calories per hour. This way you can also spread it out and, for example, go for three times 30 calories. You should also drink a lot. During our ride to the sea we had 72 bottles of water for six people. When we got home there were only 4 left. We rode on one of the hottest days of the year.”
As you just indicated, you also teach at the Flemish Cycling School. How did you get into that?
Velkeneers: “I heard through Ruben (Putzeys) that they were looking for a trainer for the Flemish Cycling School at Ciruit Zolder. He knew that I got along well with children and I also already had my diploma as an initiator in motocross. So teaching is something that appeals to me. Marc Wauters (ed. ex professional cyclist and Cycling manager of Circuit Zolder) was enthusiastic about my approach and asked me to come more often. That's how it started. That's why I'm now at Circuit Zolder on Wednesdays and Fridays and I really enjoy training the children. Their energy is very contagious. Wednesday in particular is a great day when they tell their stories from the race during the weekend. (smiles) They're like real pros!”
What is the main thrill in cycling for you?
Velkeners: “That may sound crazy, but it's all about teamwork for me. When I started it fanatically, I made the agreement that I wanted to go for my goals together with Ruben, my sparring partner, so to speak. And I also strive for that group feeling in the club. Take someone along and achieve goals together. I don't just look at myself. In our bike ride to the sea for Fighters against cancer, I was also keen that we would leave with six and arrive again with six. Even if I have to pull someone with a rope, so to speak... 'Out together, home together' is really my motto. In the cycling club I want people to enjoy their activity. Not that after one time they say, 'Never do this again!'. There were also difficult moments during our drive to the sea, but we helped each other through it. While we were with a very diverse group, someone of 26 but also one of 56. In itself it is also interesting that there are such different profiles in a group because then no one necessarily has to compare themselves, everyone is the same. different. But they were all great people with a great passion for the bicycle. And that passion makes the difference when things get difficult.”
Can the competitive animal in you indulge in cycling?
Velkeneers: “I have participated in an amateur competition before, but without specific preparation. Purely for fun. I would like to pick up a few more soon. I'll have to wait and see if that suits me. Actually, I mainly rely on my endurance. Normally I should be able to prove myself in a 70 kilometer race.
What do you think makes Kadans Cycle Club different from other cycling clubs?
Velkeneers: “In many places it's just a matter of completing a planned route quickly and that's it. For us it's more about experience. Speed or being home at a certain time is not the priority. We want to do a different tour every time. We have a ride on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. We provide three different groups of three different speeds so that everyone can ride at their own pace. This way you can choose whether you want to drive faster or slower. If possible, we also want to make something special out of it. A few weeks ago we went to the wall of Huy. We then drove up it to collect money for the MS League. For example, we will soon be going to Bioracer, a partner of Kadans and Café Coureur. There our members can see what is hidden in terms of technology behind our trousers and jerseys. If it was the Amstel Gold Race, we rode to the Cauberg, which immediately gave novice cyclists an idea of what it is actually like in real life. We will of course touch on more well-known Belgian or Flemish climbs. For example, we have a lot of beginners. Guests who played football and have now started cycling during the corona crisis! The fact that we have a drink after the ride and watch the race on TV makes it complete.”
In any case, Kadans is growing rapidly, I have been told!
Velkeneers: "Beats. Our first goal was to get thirty members together by the end of the year. We are now at 75, so things are certainly going well. We still have a lot of plans to grow further, but of course everything is still early. Well, everything except the logo, which we adopted from an existing Café Coureur initiative. Hence the 2015 in our logo! We are also still brainstorming ideas to specifically support cyclists in terms of performance. In any case, Kadans Cycle Club is a project in which we can throw ourselves completely.”
What bike are you currently riding?
Velkeneers: “A Specialized Tarmac SL6. I don't know that it has anything to do with my motocross background, but I am really fascinated by the technology behind racing bikes. That new Tarmac SL7 really catches my eye, but I can't spend €11.500 on it. In the end you still have to pedal, of course!”
What's the next big challenge?
Velkeneers: “We haven't quite decided yet, but we are playing with the idea of going to Mont Ventoux and climbing it 10 times in one day. With a bit of luck we will do that in September.”
Is that social aspect something you missed in motorsport?
Velkeneers: “In recent years that I have been racing, it had become every man for himself. When we were young, everyone used to sit together in the tent and have fun. Gradually the atmosphere became less good. People who no longer wanted each other to succeed. That's not how I am structured. I'd rather congratulate someone on a great achievement than think, "It's a shame he didn't fall." I hate that mentality.”
What are you most proud of when you look back on your motocross career?
Velkeneers: “Especially on everything I achieved in the youth ranks. I have been Walloon champion, I have been Belgian champion, in one year I won 40 crosses. That's something that is quite unique. I won the MX Masters Kids, was third in the World Mini Trophy in Jamoigne… Once I got onto the bigger bikes, I had some bad luck with injuries, but I always kept going and never gave up.”
After racing you rode enduro for one more season with Beta. That wasn't what you were looking for?
Velkeneers: “In enduro you have very long days, while I preferred intensity. On one day you had a total of 1 hour of intensive driving during the time trials while you completed leisurely connecting rides for the rest of the day. That wasn't my thing. It was also very different from motocross in terms of culture, very French-speaking with sometimes strange twists in how the regulations were applied. Then I just drew my conclusions.”
Do you still follow motocross now?
Velkeneers: “Certainly, I still follow all the GPs and Tim Gajser has always remained a good comrade. I met him when I rode EK 85cc and he rode EK 65cc. When I meet him now, he is still as friendly as he was 10 years ago. That boy works so hard and is completely dedicated to his sport. I have enormous respect for that, also because as a youth rider he had to make do with so few resources. I think it's great what he has already achieved.”
Don't you think now, if only I had started as a racing driver sooner?
Velkeneers: “No, I never had the ambition to become a professional cyclist. I have some friends who are professionals and I also see the sacrifices they have to make. For example, when it comes to their diet. Or how tough their workouts are. Then the fun in cycling will quickly disappear, I think. Places are limited in the Motocross World Championship, but you have that just as well in the UCI World Tour!”
As a motocross rider you certainly need courage. However, this also applies to those who want to go fast on the bike, where courage and steering skills can certainly make a difference. Did your background help with this?
Velkeneers: “Actually yes, although cycling comrades always laughed about that. I always say: “the shifter on the bicycle is only for shifting gears and not for braking.” I'm usually the first to tackle a descent or difficult bend. They know I won't stop!”
Tekst: Tom Jacobs
Photos: Archive Michael Velkeneers, Filip Decoster, Gino Maes
Click here for more information about Kadans Cycle Club
Click here for more information about Café Coureur
Click here for more information about the Flemish Cycling School
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