"You have to find value for sponsors beyond you as a racer" - Alexey Vermeulen discusses how to handle career changes

The American gravel scene has given an opportunity for some past pro-riders to get an opportunity to make a living from cycling in their own way, and Alexey Vermeulen is a strong example of that scenario coming to light.

In an interview with CyclingWeekly, Vermeulen has shared his experience: “This is the first year — and I want to share this because I think incomes in the cycling world need more visibility — that I am making more than I did in the WorldTour." Whilst he said that in Jumbo-Visma his annual salary was of €65.000, he now makes "over six figures".

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He explains how he's managed to turn his racing, which includes gravel and other disciplines of cycling, into a full-time job which has a better paying then in his World Tour days with Jumbo-Visma. “I also want to preface that some of that budget comes from what I do outside of my own racing, from side projects and other endeavors... You have to find value for sponsors beyond you as a racer."

“I love the business side, but to be honest, it's hard. All of a sudden I have a real job. It's such a stroke of luck, not a stroke of genius, but once you find them, you have to commit yourself to being more than just the athlete, because professional athletes can be fucking selfish," he added.

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“I think there are a lot of things that cycling is working out, but as long as the storytelling grows, the interest in cycling will grow organically," the 27-year old said inbetween explaining his current situation with gravel racing and the business side of the privateering that he has handled so well over the last few years.