Joris Nieuwenhuis works towards Dutch Championship: “My body was disrupted, now I finally feel like a rider again”

There is light at the end of the tunnel for Joris Nieuwenhuis. The Dutch champion from Ridley Racing Team was struck by shingles, and his body needed weeks to recover. During his last training week in Spain, he was able to increase the intensity again. “We will monitor my situation weekly, and if things continue to improve, I will celebrate my return at the Dutch Championship,” he said.

Nieuwenhuis was struck by the virus just before the cyclocross season. Initially, he hoped to recover in time for the World Cup, but that proved impossible. “At that time, we hadn't fully realized how severe the blow was to my health. I was sicker than expected, and upon my return, my level was just extremely low. In training, we noticed things weren’t improving. In consultation with the team, we then took drastic measures.”

No World Cup at the end of November for Nieuwenhuis, but instead an extensive training camp in Spain. He trained in Alicante together with Gijs Leemreize, Floortje Mackaij, Thomas Dekker, Femke Gerritse, and Lorena Wiebes. “My parameters were closely monitored, and little by little, they improved. Before that, I noticed I never recovered from intense efforts. A day after training, I always felt worse, and presumably, the cold also drained me further.”

Spanish Sun

“Under the Spanish sun, everything went well. Initially, it was more about cycling than actual training. I spent three weeks working on my base fitness, and now I have reached a level I can build on. Last week, Richard Groenendaal decided we could increase the intensity. These tests went well, and my values are improving. Saturday morning, I will head home, and I will do so with a good feeling. I finally feel like a rider again.”

This Friday, Nieuwenhuis also took the time to make a preliminary plan for the coming weeks with Groenendaal. “Because everything is progressing well, Richard can now make adjustments more quickly. I hope to defend my title at the Dutch Championship. That remains tentative, but we are hopeful. Of course, I cannot express concrete ambitions for my first races. I don’t know what to expect and will be happy with any small success or step forward I can take.”

Team Successes

In the meantime, the Dutchman saw his teammates have a great season. “I was incredibly happy with Felipe's performances. He’s having a fantastic season and also took some pressure off me to return. Thanks to him, the team was in the spotlight every weekend. After each impressive performance, I would send him a message. I also have a great relationship with Daan, and we often caught up.”

Nieuwenhuis will spend the holidays in his familiar surroundings in his home country. He will sit at the festive table with a small smile: “Things are going in the right direction, and that’s a relief after a difficult period.”

Photo: Photo News