Algemeen Staff Stories - head coach Jeroen Dingemans: "Our holistic approach improves the entire squad, and I believe we're truly excelling in that area."

Whether Arnaud De Lie wins the Belgian Championship, Cedric Beullens leads out a sprint, or Lennert Van Eetvelt is the first to reach the summit of a climb, it's never the result of just one day’s work. It involves months of training and preparation, with carefully tailored training plans and daily monitoring. That’s where Lotto Dstny’s four-person coaching team comes in. Jeroen Dingemans (38) is the head coach and is currently in his second season with the team. Having worked for years with riders like Florian Vermeersch and Cedric Beullens, he now knows the ins and outs of all the riders.

One thing is clear: the trainer’s job begins when the kilometers have been logged. "We’re responsible for daily follow-up," Jeroen explains. "First and foremost, we provide guidance on what’s expected during training. The riders know the type of training they need to complete, how long it should last, and at what intensity. That’s the part of coaching everyone knows. But there’s much more behind it. I start the day by checking morning metrics: how was the rider’s sleep, are there signs of fatigue, how well did they recover from the previous day? After training, we analyze again. How did it go? Does the rider feel good? From all this data, we can gather a lot of insights—not only into general fitness but also potential signs of illness or fatigue."

The coaching team is in constant contact with everyone in the Lotto Dstny performance team. Sports directors adjust their selections accordingly, nutritionists tailor meal plans to training schedules, and the team collaborates with researchers from Ghent University to implement recent studies. There’s also close coordination with mechanics, soigneurs, and others. "Thanks to all the data available, we stay on top of things and maintain a clear view of the riders' readiness. This allows us to advise the sports directors and immediately adjust or proactively adapt training workloads if needed. And thanks to our collaboration with Ghent University, we can apply and test new research and studies on our riders."

The primary goal is to periodize training schedules so riders peak physically for specific races or periods. However, coaches are sometimes present at races themselves. "We’re especially involved during time trials," says Jeroen. "We provide the protocols—for example, what to do if it gets very hot—advise team management, and help with organizational aspects."

Jeroen Dingemans is particularly proud of what Lotto Dstny’s performance team has already achieved. "Besides the privilege of working with top athletes and world-class cyclists every day, I believe that, especially given our budget, we’re doing an outstanding job. Our holistic approach as a performance team allows us to improve the entire squad through many small details. And I think we’re really excelling in that area."

Picture: Brecht Steenhouwer