Hip cycling club with big ambitions: will BEAT be the third professional team in the Netherlands?
Broekhuizen: “Our track cyclists have already won titles at the games, world titles, European titles. And we have also been active on the road for a while. We think it is time to take the next step.”
In 2018, the team is still at zero on the road. Hope to raise it last year, but then it couldn’t get the financing.
“BEAT Cycling is not a commercial sponsor team, as you see it in the rest of the peloton. BEAT is our own club name, a club with its own identity. A club that you can join as a cycling enthusiast, but also as a partner. You can become a member from our cycling club, participating in events, knowledge of the experiences of our top athletes and in the same clothing.”
‘Conversations with Terpstra are ongoing’
There is no lack of ambition, according to Broekhuizen rider. For example, the use of a few big names, such as Niki Terpstra, has already been discussed. The contract of the 38-year-old North Hollander, former winner of the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, with the French Total Energys expires at the end of the season.
But we are not there yet. “The talks are ongoing”, Broekhuizen laughs, slightly sneering. First, the procontinental license must be granted. “We are not there yet. We are in talks with our partners and with partners to take that step forward. But Niki is certainly an interesting rider.”