"I don't know where my life is going at the moment": Robert Gesink opens up on life after losing his wife
CyclingSaturday, 01 August 2026 at 21:18
Nearly a year after the devastating loss of his wife Daisy, former Dutch cyclist Robert Gesink admits he is still searching for direction. While balancing fatherhood, managing the businesses his late wife built, and beginning a new chapter as a television analyst, the 40-year-old says the feeling of home is something he has yet to rediscover.
Gesink made his debut as an analyst for Dutch broadcaster NOS during this year's Tour de France, offering post-stage analysis as he gradually builds a life away from professional cycling.
However, speaking to Bahamontes Magazine, he admitted that uncertainty still defines this new phase of his life. "I don't know where my life is going at the moment," he admitted.
The former Jumbo-Visma rider explained that keeping busy helps him cope with the loss of his wife Daisy, who passed away in 2025. Among his new responsibilities are two hospitality businesses that were founded by Daisy: the Hors Catégorie coffee bar in Andorra and the Hors Catégorie bistro in Girona.
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"This coffee bar (in Andorra) was run by Daisy together with her best friend, Vivian, and the business in Girona, also called Hors Catégorie but more of a bistro than a coffee bar, was Daisy's as well. This was her passion."
Gesink says continuing her legacy has become one of his main goals, despite the emotional weight it carries. "I want to make it a success story in her name, together with Vivian of course. But at the same time, it also brings uncertainty. It's all very mixed."
Robert Gesink with his wife and daughter in 2013
Learning life from scratch
Following Daisy's passing, Gesink was left to raise their 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son on his own, a challenge he admits completely changed his daily life.
"I'm proud of how we're doing at the moment, how we've picked our lives back up. Because I really had to do that in those first months after Daisy's death."
He revealed that during his cycling career, many everyday responsibilities had been handled by his wife. "Daisy made everything run. After her death, I even had to learn the smallest, simplest things. How the school system works, for example. Or where I had to pick the children up from school, and how to switch on a washing machine."
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To help manage his new responsibilities, Gesink has hired someone to assist the family. "I've hired an older Argentine woman who takes care of the household and picks the children up from school and brings them to their after-school activities."
The support has made a significant difference. "When I was doing that myself, I spent three hours a day in the car. I didn't have time for anything anymore. Now I try to leave one day a week completely free and clear my head during a long bike ride to recharge my batteries."
Although Gesink continues to live in Andorra, the place that once felt like home has changed forever. "I had found a home in Andorra together with Daisy and the children. Now that Daisy is no longer here, I have three places where I have loose ends and a roof over my head—The Netherlands, Girona and Andorra—but I no longer have a place where I can truly come home."
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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