UAE Team Emirates apparently interested in the services of Belgian national coach after a double Olympic gold
Cycling
Sven Vanthourenhout (thanks to the phenomenal Remco Evenepoel) has achieved everything a national coach can dream of. Whether he'll continue in his task as a Team Belgium's coach is now up in the air as he reportedly received numerous work offers from top WorldTour teams.
Het Laatste Nieuws informs that Vanthourenhout was approached by the best team of the world in UAE Team Emirates, as well as Belgian formation Soudal - Quick-Step and the super-ambitious Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. The interest of UAE is said to be the most concrete.
The day after Evenepoel's historic triumph, Vanthourenhout confirmed the rumour for HLN: "I can't deny that I'm charmed by certain proposals from teams that I hadn't thought of myself," he said. "There were some very concrete ones."
According to the coach, this was not the first time big teams came asking for his services, but it's only now after the Olympics that there's a real goal for Vanthourenhout missing. "I also received an offer last year. I informed the union correctly. I will be sitting down with my employer later. That conversation will also make me a lot wiser. The ball is not only in my court. They also have to be satisfied with my task."
Tom Van Damme, chairman of Belgian Cycling, would like to keep Vanthourenhout on board, however he's fully aware that they can't match financial offers from teams like UAE. "We are super happy, but if certain World Tour teams with oil dollars come forward, then you know that a federation cannot compete financially."
Still he spares a wise word or two for Vanthourenhout, pointing out that his daily life will change drastically in case that he agrees: "The life of a national coach is completely different from life with a professional team. It is up to Sven to weigh up the other advantages of being a national coach versus a life as a sports director who travels the world like a nomad."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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