Having made his pro debut in 2019, Gerben Thijssen has slowly been climbing up the ranks in the sprinter field. Having left Lotto Soudal to join Intermarché - Wanty - Gobert Matériaux, he is so far this year experiencing a lot of freedom and also support for his goals in the sprints and classics.
In an interview with Wielerflits, Thijssen has talked about the support and motivation that are currently boosting the team into incredibly positive performances, his upcoming calendar and goals for the rest of the season.
He explained his upcoming racing schedule: “I will start in the Heistse Pijl (June 4), the Ronde van Limburg (June 6), the Elfstedenronde (June 12) and the Baloise Belgium Tour (June 15-19) respectively," he said, and that will be his final preparation for the main goal of the summer. "This is followed by the BC [Belgian Championships] in Middelkerke (June 26), which I did mark with red. If the wind in 'De Moeren' is not so bad that day, that BC can become a bunch sprint. That I look forward to."
Thijssen has taken his first pro win recently at the 4 Jours du Dunkerque, and has had a very consistent period where he fought for top results in several Belgian/Dutch semi-classics. He's playing a role in Intermarché's quest for UCI points, but is also targeting his own individual goals by doing the same.
Later on in the season he's hoping to be a part of the team's lineup at the Vuelta a España - as Alexander Kristoff and Biniam Girmay are set to target the late season classics and World championships. "I made my Grand Tour debut there two years ago and took second place on stage ninth. I'm a little bit out for revenge," Thijssen pointed out. “But we continue to make progress step by step. Thanks to Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert and the good flow we are in. That is the most important."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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