{"id":15570,"title":"Gosse van der Meer","description":"Meet the Dutch professional cyclist Gosse van Der Meer who's loving his fun and freedom riding cyclocross, road and mountain bikes across the world.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: CYCLOCROSS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Meet the Dutch professional cyclist who's loving his fun and freedom. \"\"Image:\u00a0<\/em>Paul Paxford<\/em><\/a><\/p>

Seeking more enjoyment and greater independence, cyclist and geography student Gosse van der Meer abandoned the traditional team structure to create his own unique model of professionalism.<\/p>

UCI Continental<\/h3>

Gosse embarked upon his professional career riding on a Dutch mountain bike team. After three years he signed with the Belgian Tarteletto-Isorex UCI Continental team.<\/p>

The Continental category forms the lowest rung within the UCI's pyramid of road teams. Teams exist on a diet of kermesses and occasional UCI 1.1 races where up to 50% of the field consist of World Tour teams.\"\" Gosse has prioritised enjoyment over financial reward <\/em><\/strong>Image: Breakaway Digital<\/em><\/p>

Budgetary constraints and provincial sponsors mean that Continental teams tend to race within their home country. The UCI doesn't set minimum salaries for Continental teams, unlike World Tour and Pro Continental levels.<\/p>

A few riders at this level might earn up to \u00a320,000 per year but it's often much lower. There's no obligation for teams to pay expenses which can amount to \u00a3500 per month. Many professionals at this grade are reliant upon their parents to afford their profession.<\/p>

\"there's always another hopeful \"<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

A typical professional rides at the Continental level for two or three years. If they fail to make the breakthrough into the next tier they face a harsh economic reality. Many retire in disappointment or revert to amateur status.<\/p>

The racing's demanding and the struggle to retain a team place is ceaseless. It's a tough prospect but in cycling-mad Belgium, there's always another hopeful to fill the gap.<\/p>

Tension<\/h3>

Gosse realised that whilst he was good, he was not exceptional enough to make a well-rewarded living. He lasted longer than most, being contracted to teams for five years but there was always a tension between his cycling and academic careers.<\/p>

Should he pursue a cycling dream or gain the essential qualifications he'd need for a post-cycling profession?\"\"Gosse combines studying with his racing <\/em><\/strong>Image Pia-Sophie Nowak<\/em><\/p>

Continuing his studies whilst racing brought real challenges. Teams and sponsors expect total commitment and performance. Even though events sometimes clashed with exams, he graduated with a degree in Geography, Planning and the Environment from Radboud University in the Dutch town of Nijmegen.<\/p>

\"a severe case of wanderlust\"<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

Increasingly, Gosse felt frustrated with the limited circle of races. It was no longer his desire to ride the same races and same roads year after year. Maybe it's something inherent in Geography students but he had a severe case of wanderlust. He'd relished the adventure of racing mountain bikes in the rugged Mongolian Steppe. Could he possibly combine racing with his zeal for travel?<\/p>

Cycling Privateer<\/h3>

He parted company with Tarteletto-Isorex on good terms at the end of 2017. He bumps into his old team when he rides kermesses in Belgium and they often lend him a helping hand.<\/p>

Gosse established himself as a privateer with his own sponsors. At last, he could control where he raced and create a balance between academia and cycling. It was not going to make him rich but he'd have more enjoyment and independence.<\/p>

No longer part of a team he'd no longer be able to ride UCI road races but his heart lay with off-road disciplines where teammates aren't a necessity. He'd have the chance to compete in races from around the world.\"\" Flat out at Hulst <\/em><\/strong>Image Pia-Sophie Nowak<\/em><\/p>

Coming up against the top-flight riders of European cyclocross each week, such as Wout van Aert and Eli Iserbyt, makes triumph unlikely. Revelling in his autonomy, Gosse has enjoyed the pleasure of victory at lesser races such as UCI C2 and National B races. He's still, however, a frequent competitor in the UCI's Cyclocross World Cup series.<\/p>

Sponsors<\/h3>

Running his own one-man team requires Gosse to recruit and retain sponsors to make it financially viable. His approach is simple. Don't ask for more than you're worth. Deliver value to your sponsors through results and media profile, and provide valuable technical feedback.<\/p>

\"be loyal\"<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

Finally, be loyal. All too often, he sees riders switching sponsors and endorsements for a slightly better financial offer.\"\" Gosse's recruited his own sponsors including Bombtrack Bikes and Hunt Wheels <\/em><\/strong>Image: Breakaway Digital<\/em><\/p>

Have Bike Will Travel<\/h3>

Goose has raced his bike in many corners of the world. He can count off 25 countries without trouble. Most of Europe, Australia, Mongolia, China and the USA amongst others. He's exhilarated by the chance to explore new countries and hopes to add Russia and Japan once the pandemic is over.<\/p>

Racing in the USA<\/h3>

The early part of Gosse's 2021 cyclocross season was spent in the USA. Taking to the open road he clocked up thousands of kilometres driving and twenty races in two months.<\/p>

From Roanoke and the fresh air of the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains to the wide expanse of sandy beaches at Falmouth, Cape Cod. Netting a win at Indianapolis and second in the USCX Series ensured he took home not only indelible memories but a slew of valuable UCI points.<\/p>

Gosse likens the USA cyclocross scene to that of the UK with its mass and diverse participation. UCI events in the UK and USA are often dependent upon registration fees for their existence, unlike Belgium and the Netherlands where races attract major sponsors and fee-paying spectators.
\"\"Racing in the World Cup round at Hulst <\/em><\/strong>Image: Pia-Sophie Nowak <\/em>

Without the need to accommodate lesser skilled riders, organisers in the cyclocross heartland of Europe create demanding technical courses that are rarely encountered in the UK or USA. In the absence of rain, he depicts a typical USA cyclocross race as a grass criterium with resultant large bunches of riders and tactics at a premium.<\/p>

Goose<\/h3>

Gosse is used to people struggling to pronounce his name correctly. It's pronounced like Gossa with a 'hard' G. He's often referred to as 'Goose' but in the States, Gosse van der Meer became \"Goose Fender Mere\".<\/p>

\"C'mon Goose\"<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

Coupled with his dashing moustache, larger-than-life personality and the glamour of being a European professional, he garnered a strong following amongst American fans of the sport. \"C'mon Goose\" became a common refrain.<\/p>

That Moustache<\/h3>

One of Gosse's most distinctive and notable features is his noble moustache. It's like a personal brand symbol. It's the result of an accord with his then under-23 teammates.\"\" The famous moustache <\/em><\/strong>Image: Breakaway Digital<\/em><\/p>

Inspired by the Ice Hockey superstition of a \"playoff beard\", they agreed not to shave until the final race of the season. Due to injury, he didn't complete the season and so the beard stayed.<\/p>

\"the elegance of cycling\"<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

As the owner and manager of his own team, he can at least dictate the rules regarding facial hair. Sport Vlaanderen's director Walter Planckaert famously banned his riders from growing beards. He felt it spoilt \"elegantie van het wielrennen\u201d, or in other words the elegance of cycling.<\/p>

UK National Trophy<\/h3>

Gosse won the UK's National Trophy cyclocross series in the 2019-20 season. He'd raced and triumphed the previous year at the Shrewsbury round. It was his first visit to the UK and resulted from his association with long-time sponsor Hunt Wheels who are based in West Sussex.<\/p>

He was astonished when he first arrived. His UK team manager arrived at the notoriously muddy Shrewsbury wearing a rather smart pair of white trainers. Then he realised that everyone had brought their own jet wash.\"\" Clinching the UK's National Trophy Series at York <\/em><\/strong>Image: Breakaway Digital<\/em><\/p>

Not only are these provided by the race promoters in Europe but he'd have struggled with the baggage allowance on his budget flight. Things were clearly different in the UK.<\/p>

The following year he participated in all of the rounds, winning at Irvine and placing second in all but one other round. The Dutch press assumed he was the man on form and promptly tipped him as a favourite for the Dutch title. He finished a creditable ninth, just behind David van der Poel, with David's brother Mathieu the winner.<\/p>

Gosse collected his cup for the National Trophy at British Cycling's awards ceremony in Manchester. Being a foreigner, they clearly didn't trust him as he was required to sign a contract to the effect that he wouldn't take the trophy out of the country.<\/p>

The Future<\/h3>

Being a geographer and lover of cartography, it comes as no surprise to find that Gosse has already mapped out his future. Alongside the twenty-five hours a week, he devotes to training and racing, plus all the travelling, he's studying for an MSC in Spatial Engineering at the University of Twente in Enschede.\"\" Racing in the World Cup round at Namur <\/em><\/strong>Image: Pia-Sophie Nowak<\/em><\/p>

Although 'at' is a misnomer as, since the Covid pandemic, it's entirely online. He actually lives across the border in Kranenburg, Germany. Not that he spends much time there either.<\/p>

His ambition is to work on search and rescue helicopters, supplemented by landscape surveying. Using his GIS (Geographic Information System mapping software) skills, he's working on 3-D maps to assist helicopter pilots.<\/p>

\"a dangerous combination\"<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>

Search and rescue helicopters are frequently required to fly in challenging conditions and close to the ground. Poor visibility and the potential for overhead cables and radio masts make for a dangerous combination.<\/p>

Gosse hopes to utilise lasers and GIS software to minimise those risks. As he hopes he'll be flying in those helicopters he has a personal interest to improve safety.<\/p>

He's still enjoying his alternative professional career. He's never going to be signed by a major team and he's never going to win a World Cup but for the time being, he's happy with his alternative path.<\/p>

Not that everyone agrees with his attitude. He's used to criticism from commenters on Dutch language websites, such as wielerflits.nl. He knows of riders who have quit in the face of such criticism but Gosse is able to laugh, get out his world atlas and plan his next trip.<\/p>

My thanks to Gosse for his time and knowledge.<\/p>

Tim Costello, 7 Feb 2022.<\/p>

Supporters<\/h3>

Gosse rides Bombtrack Bikes<\/a> on Hunt Wheels<\/a> and is supported by Haak Production and Engineering Solutions<\/a>.<\/p>

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