“We want to become the best development team in the world”dares Jochim Aerts, the CEO of Ridley, who was able to convince the winner of the Flèche Wallonne 2001 to bring his expertise (acquired at Quick-Step, BMC, IAM and even Bahrain) and his network. To attract sponsors, young talents and increase the budget. After his official presentation this Friday, Rik Verbrugghe – who signed a three-year contract – then agreed to sit with us for almost an hour to explain this change of direction in his already rich career.
Rik, let’s first come back to your somewhat surprising departure from Israel Premier Tech, where you had a contract until 2025. How did it happen?
“With Sylvan Adams, a person with whom I really enjoyed working for four years, we had an honest discussion in Canada in September. Some predicted 2026 at Cofidis, with whom I had contact during spring But there was nothing concrete, despite the fact that I got along very well with Cédric Vasseur and that his project was interesting. So Sylvan asked me if my ideas were still 100% with Israel. Premier Tech. I was very honest in telling him that I was happy and that I could have continued with the team, but that there was indeed another project in the back of my mind And in these conditions. There, he said that he had no problem letting me go and that he appreciated my work. But this project, which I did not tell him about at the time, was not Cofidis but Ridley. , who contacted me through Jochim Aerts.”
gullI had contact with Cofidis in the spring, but nothing concrete.
If you are asked what positive and negative things you remember from your experience at Israel Premier Tech, what comes to mind?
“For me, the greatest revelation was Stephen Williams, whom I had already known in Bahrain. I pushed to bring him in while Cavendish was on the market. Few people knew him and his development was remarkable, with his victory on the Flèche Wallonne as the highlight. Recruiting this kind of talent and developing it is great. Like with Joseph Blackmore, who was a young mountain bike talent and who we convinced to try it. experience on the road. And he won the Tour de l’Avenir in August. Regarding disappointments, it’s difficult not to mention Chris Froome. His recruitment was proof of ambition for Sylvan Adams but it was ultimately a flop. He is a fantastic person and a very professional rider. He did everything to try to return to his best level after his serious fall on the Dauphiné in 2019. The team also tried everything. But at a certain point, we realized that it wasn’t possible.”
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The political situation in Israel made recruitment difficult.
Did the Israeli-Palestinian conflict also play a role in your departure from the team?
“No, but he has sometimes influenced my work. When you want to convince an athlete to join the team, you have to put in double the effort because even if you explain that there is absolutely no link between politics and the cycling team, this was a hindrance for certain riders in the discussions.”
Let’s go back to your arrival at Ridley’s. When were the first contacts made?
“In July, but I was still committed to my contract with Israel Premier Tech until 2025. The first discussions therefore concerned 2026. But as my situation evolved, things accelerated during the Worlds in Zurich, at the end of September . And I was charmed by the project that Jochim Aerts presented to me with this idea of dominance in everything related to offroad.
We are looking to grow profiles at Thibau Nys.
However, this is not something you are used to.
“No, and I will let Richard Groenendaal manage this part, which he does very well. It remains 100% his responsibility. I will simply give him my advice and my expertise. But aside from this offroad aspect, which is the DNA of the team, there is also a road component that I will develop. I will be 100% responsible for recruitment. The idea is to recruit, via my networks but also through offroad races. , runners who can be good, everywhere, on all grounds. We are targeting young people who do not have a contract next season, who have not been able to make the step towards a first team. There is also plenty of talent at races like Unbound, the biggest gravel race in the world. Identifying them and making them grow is our goal. We are looking for profiles at Thibau Nys. With the objective of having a team that can have a road program, why not from 2026.”
Do you already see further?
“Of course we are ambitious. We already have a continental license (Editor’s note: the third division of cycling) and we hope to climb the ladder. The dream is to be at the start of the Tour de France in five years. But the evolution of the team will depend on many factors.”
What arguments will you use to try to recruit runners? You’re almost starting from scratch.
“We really want to try to find young talents, who can join our project, by first offering them a year offroad, including gravel and cyclo-cross but above all fun. We see many young people exploding in mid-flight because the mental constraints of the road circuit are too heavy Here, we will be able to welcome them in a less oppressive setting While offering them dream equipment (.Ridley bike, Shimano groupset, DT Swiss wheels, Vittoria tires, Bioracer jerseys, etc.) and the possibility of certain development tools such as the Ridley Aerotunnel. When you know how much marginal gains matter today, it carries weight.”
gullThe Thomas De Gent file is on the table.
The name of Thomas De Gendt is already being mentioned as a potential recruit. To mentor the young talents you speak of?
“We always need road captains to help young riders progress, so it is true that his file is on the table. His profile can help us grow the project.”
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When Jochim Aerts talks about the goal of becoming the best development team, those are strong words. Can we compare your project to that of Axel Merckx at Hagens Bermans Jayco?
“Axel has a superb vision, which I share. He has not always had the sufficient budget to keep his riders and he has often had to focus on a program on the American circuit. Our idea is rather to have an international team , who races on the European circuit.”
Uno-X, which is also one of the partners, will no longer have a development team in 2025. Should we see a cause and effect link?
“Not as directly. But it is true that Uno-X, focused on young Scandinavians, is opening more and more to international talents. The fact that it believes in our project can create a synergy, but it is still a little early to really talk concretely. I will also work to optimize the relationship with the Acrog-Tormans youth team, from Balen.”
gullI just turned 50 and I want some fun.
You leave the well-established framework of the World Tour for a completely new adventure, which starts practically from scratch. Do you consider this a risky bet?
“No, because there is a lot of ambition here. I would not have signed if I was not 100% convinced that this project would work. I have just turned 50 and I had the chance to build a great experience I have always been tempted by building my own team and I feel like this is the ideal time to embrace this challenge. I’m going to regret it too. I want fun (smile). Setting up a structure is something I know how to do. I have already proven this in the past. Working with young talents and helping them grow is what stimulates me the most. And here, I have the opportunity to do it in a new area, offroad, where I am convinced that there are great things to look for. Working in Belgium, for a Belgian team, also attracted me. That’s why I simply couldn’t refuse this offer.”
