"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".

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.

“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.