Last week, Marc Sergeant and his team of six sporting directors gathered the Lotto Belisol team for a first introduction. Instead of training on the Ridley team bike, the team took part in a teambuilding which took place in and around the outdoor activity center Wildtrails in Jupille.
According to Marc Sergeant, the base of a good cycling season is done in the winter. In the past, riders only did physical training, but in recent years there is a need for a broader range of capabilities like mental strength and team spirit.
I was surprised by the discipline, focus and especially the competitive mindset of the team, says Frank Descamps of Wildtrails. Each activity turned into a real showdown, and all the (time) records of activities that we organize here were pulverized by the cyclists. This year was no different. Highlights were definitely the pamper pole, the night dropping, and rafting on (and in) the Ourthe.
Who thinks we only climbed rocks and ran through forests, is mistaken. Over half the time the riders worked in group on their mental strength and focus. Just like last year, these activities were completed under the supervision of performance coach Koen Gonnissen. For some, this was probably a new approach, but the team management is convinced of its usefulness. Now, team Lotto Belisol can leave on a first group stage as of December 6th in Spain.