a conversation with...

  The Mobel Sport - Cycle Sierra Nevada Scholarship was developed as a way to sponsor young cyclists that may not have opportunity or financial capacity to avail of a cycling training camp. In this section we take 5 minutes for a chat with one of the applicants selected for the 2018 program.

Luuk van Gestel - brabant - the netherlands

Who are you?

I am Luuk van Gestel and I am 17 years old.

What team do you ride for?

TWC het snelle wiel Bladel.

Why did you start cycling?

My dad is really in to cycling and when I turned 8 years old I was allowed to come and take a look at the cycling club. I liked the ambiance at the club and the fun during the training so I decided to stop my football career and become a cyclist.

Have you any sporting backgrounds apart from cycling?

I played some football when I was younger.

What type of cyclist are you? Do you compete in other disciplines, other than road cycling?

I am a fast rider that can survive little climbs. In the winter I ride on the track in Amsterdam.

Favourite piece of cycling equipment/kit?

My power meter.

Your greatest achievements on a bicycle?

Victory in the Dutch classic Omloop van Noordwest Overijssel.

Your favourite professional cyclist? (past and present)

Michal Kwiatkowski.

Most memorable moment/stage win from professional cycling?

Tom Dumoulin: stage 9 Tour de France 2016.

Your favourite stage race and one day race? Why?

Paris-Roubaix because of the heroic cobblestone sections and De 8 van Bladel because it is my home race.

What's your current favourite music album/song?

I just listen the playlist 'chill hits' on Spotify.

Tell us something we don’t know about you already and you don’t mind the general public knowing?

I really like coffee rides ;)

Hopes and plans for the future?

I hope to participate at the world championships in Innsbruck 2018.