Algemeen Staff Stories – Mechanic: Arno Rossignol: “You get to visit so many countries… in what other job can you say that?”

Arno has been a valued member of the Lotto Cycling Team’s technical crew for three years now. He mainly takes care of the women’s bikes. For years, he has had a passion for repairing and maintaining bicycles. “Nine years ago, I quit school to follow a training course to become a bike mechanic,” Arno explains. “After that, I started working in a local bike shop and joined a youth team as a mechanic, from juniors to U23. Step by step, I worked my way up to where I am now: my third season at Lotto.”

What does he love most about his job? He doesn’t have to think long: “The variety of races and the countries you get to visit,” says Arno. And his ultimate dream? “I’d love to go to the UAE Tour one day. It would be amazing to discover the United Arab Emirates – and how great is it to do that while doing your job?”

A mechanic does much more than just fixing bikes or sitting in the team car ready to jump into action during a race. He’s often also a confidant for the riders, who need to be able to rely on him at any moment. “The best part is being part of a team that fights together for a goal – whether that’s a stage win or a jersey.”

His fondest memory? “Without a doubt, last year’s Tour de l’Ardèche, where we won two stages, the overall classification, and four jerseys with Thalita de Jong,” he recalls. Arno also looks to the future with ambition: “I hope we can continue to grow the team to an even higher level. And that one day, we’ll belong among the top teams – who knows?”

Photo: Brecht Steenhouwer