Although racing always plays the absolute leading role for us, we secretly have a thing for football too. Undoubtedly, there are cycling fans who would rather head into the mountains during the World Cup than watch a ball for ninety minutes. But our experience is that – even though they really are two completely different sports – a surprising number of cyclists and bike enthusiasts will follow the upcoming World Cup closely. Alone, with family, with friends in the pub, or on a packed square.
What many people also don't know is that a striking number of great cyclists were once serious football players. This beautiful historical cross-pollination was the perfect reason for us to launch a unique, temporary collection. An ode to the Football World Cup, featuring cycling jerseys in national colors and two very special heritage football shirts that stood at the cradle of the iconic football history of the Netherlands and Belgium
Cycling footballers and cycling heroes as football fans
Both past and present, there are relatively many riders who once wore football boots with great passion before stepping into clipless pedals.
Eddy Merckx: Take the greatest of all. The 'Cannibal' began his sporting life as a footballer for White Star Woluwe. He stopped playing football when he started racing, partly due to a rather practical problem. He had lost his identity card, and his father could not (and would not) pay the weekly administrative fine of 20 francs to let him play without an ID. Merckx has always remained friends with Anderlecht legend Paul Van Himst, by the way, and is known as one of the most loyal superfans of RSC Anderlecht.
Remco Evenepoel & Mathieu van der Poel: If we look at today's heroes, we quickly arrive at Remco Evenepoel. He played in the youth academies of Anderlecht and PSV, and was even captain of the Young Red Devils (under-15). It wasn't until he was seventeen that he hung up his football boots to start his impressive cycling career. And did you know that Mathieu van der Poel was scouted by Royal Antwerp FC in his youth? Ultimately, he chose the bike because, as an individual, he could have a greater impact on the victory.
Roger De Vlaeminck: Roger De Vlaeminck – Monsieur Paris-Roubaix – was also an incredibly talented footballer for FC Eeklo in his youth. When he was sixteen, he was selected for the first team. But after the club president treated him a bit too haughtily, De Vlaeminck was done with it: he quit football immediately and took up racing. The irony? Today, FC Eeklo's stadium is called the Roger De Vlaeminck Stadium.
Andere mooie voorbeelden?
De Nederlandse ronderenner Erik Breukink was een zeer talentvolle voetballer en mocht als profrenner zelfs een keer meetrainen met het Ajax van Johan Cruijff. Greg Van Avermaet was ooit een uiterst verdienstelijke doelman in de jeugd van de Belgische profclub SK Beveren. En het kan zelfs andersom: Tourwinnaar van 2006, Oscar Pereiro Sio, werd ná zijn wielercarrière gewoon nog even profvoetballer bij het Spaanse Coruxo FC!
Tot slot wemelt het in het peloton van de fanatieke voetbalfans. Denk aan legendes als Felice Gimondi (Internazionale) en Walter Godefroot, maar ook hedendaagse renners als Steven Kruijswijk (PSV), Wout van Aert (Antwerp FC en Club Brugge), Tom Dumoulin (MVV), Bauke Mollema en Dylan van Baarle (Feyenoord) en Dylan Groenewegen en David Dekker (Ajax).
Temporarily on Display: The World Cup 2026 Collection
Inspired by this wonderful intertwining of both sports, we are offering a unique, strictly limited edition World Cup collection.
Heritage Football Shirts
For after the ride, in front of the TV, or just casual on the terrace. Two iconic football shirts with a special story.
| RED DEVILS - 1906 | ORANJE - 1907 |
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| April 29, 1906, Het Kiel in Antwerp. Belgium plays against arch-rivals the Netherlands. Clad in brand-new, bright red jerseys, the Belgians beat their northern neighbors no less than 5-0. Association official Pierre Walckiers is so impressed by the fierce players in red that he calls them "Les petits diables rouges" in his match report. It was the official birth of the Red Devils. | April 14, 1907, the Beerschot grounds in Antwerp. The Dutch probably thought: such a striking color gives you wings, so let's give something back. That day, playing away against Belgium, the Netherlands played an official international match in an orange shirt for the very first time. One year after the big loss, it resulted in a glorious victory and the absolute beginning of our inseparable 'Oranje' tradition. |
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FOOTBALL FEVER. CYCLING STYLE
Would you rather express your football fever on the pedals? Our high-quality retro cycling jerseys in the national colors of the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France are now temporarily available!
Show who you are cheering for, kilometer after kilometer. Be quick, because stock is limited!
Show who you are cheering for, kilometer after kilometer. Be quick, because stock is limited!
