In Rhythm of the Road, we follow the Airoman.cc riders in their road races. From classic one-day races and local circuits to tough stage races and exciting competitions. We take you through the packed peloton and the dynamics of the road season. Since this season, Airoman.cc has been collaborating with the Sensa-KVK Cycling Team — an ambitious team that gives young riders the space to develop themselves. One of those riders is Chiel Schulten. He recently participated in a special adventure: Join the Program , the talent show organized by BEAT and the training app JOIN, searching for undiscovered cycling talent. Chiel made it to the finals out of more than 1,200 participants. We spoke with him about his cycling background, why he decided to participate in the challenge, what he learned from the JOIN training sessions, and his experience during the selection weekend. And of course: how he now views the rest of the season.
From open day to club competition
Chiel has been on two wheels since he was little. " I played soccer for a while, but it wasn't for me. When I got on my bike at an open house in Raalte, I was hooked . I enjoyed it so much that I kept going." From that moment on—Chiel was only nine years old at the time—he cycled through the youth categories. From the novice level onward, he took things a bit more seriously, and as a junior, he was allowed to join the international program. Chiel: "That simply makes you a better rider and puts you in the picture with the better club teams." In the years between the juniors and now, Chiel rode for two years at VolkersWessels, one year at Reggeborgh, and also had a foray into the Scorpions Continental team before joining Sensa-KVK. "I've been fortunate that I've always been able to combine my passion for cycling with my work. First at an installation company and now as a bicycle mechanic. They give me the space to ride multi-day stage races, for example, and to be able to train first thing in the morning.'
Participation in Join the Program
So there's no shortage of ambition, and that's precisely why Chiel decided to participate in Join the Program . A five-week program where riders could test themselves on four different fronts, with the grand prize being an internship contract with BEAT Cycling. For Chiel, it was simple: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" He explains how he had been in contact with BEAT before, but that it never resulted in an actual contract. Joining the Program was therefore the perfect way for him to show Chiel the rider , not just to promote results. "That way, they also get a sense of what kind of engine I have and what I'm capable of."
The program aims to scout riders who have previously gone unnoticed. Chiel recognizes himself in this, having been a promising rider during the coronavirus pandemic. "Back then, we simply couldn't show ourselves well because there weren't many races. That's why it's great that an opportunity like this came along." Reason enough to seize it with both hands.
After consulting with the team and his coach, Chiel signed up and began the five-week program. He was careful to keep his own schedule as the central theme: "Although the Beat & Join training sessions and tests were important, my own schedule remained the guiding principle. Ultimately, competitions were still the most important, and there's a lot of data to be gained from that as well."
During the five weeks, Chiel indicated his training availability every day, after which Join prescribed a training program and accompanying tests. "We ended up doing five different tests: a VO2 max test, a 20-minute test, a 1-minute test, and a 5-minute test." For Chiel, the five weeks of the program coincided with his preparation for the National Championships. "That worked out well, because I had to do those kinds of training sessions and tests anyway. So I tried to indicate my availability in such a way that the tests and heavy training sessions were scheduled on practical days."
Four weeks after the final training sessions, Chiel heard he was among the final fifty riders. Then came the toughest part: making a video explaining why he thought he deserved the training contract. "I'm not normally one for that; I always think other people should decide." Despite that, it was a convincing video, because Chiel ultimately received the invitation to the final weekend. "I was just at work when I got the email. I hadn't really thought about it anymore because, based on what I'd heard Thijs (Zonneveld, BEAT team manager) say in a few podcasts about the type of rider they were looking for—an athlete from a different sport—I thought I didn't have a chance." That turned out to be a mistake, and so Chiel had to prepare for the final weekend, where four other riders would be present besides himself. "It was a bit of a goosebumps moment."
The final weekend
During the final weekend, Chiel and the other riders faced several challenges: Saturday was filled with all-out blocks and a training race in Sloten after a long endurance ride, and Sunday was all about lead-outs. They also got a glimpse behind the scenes at BEAT. "You could immediately see how well-organized everything was." Chiel also found it very instructive to get an inside look at BEAT's vision and goals. "You can often be quick to judge from the outside, but when you hear the inside story about how the team is built, your perspective changes. I also really appreciated that a few BEAT riders were there, because we could ask them questions." What kind of questions were they? "For example, about Sunday's lead-outs. I'm not a real finisher myself, but I often get involved in bunch sprints, so now I could calmly ask them how they keep the team together in a calm and effortless way." Because that is always very difficult due to the hectic pace of a mass sprint.'
Regarding his performance, Chiel is pleased with what he achieved during the weekend: "During Saturday's all-out testing, I rode a personal best on my 1-minute time, so that can't be the reason. The race in Sloten, especially after 135 kilometers on the bike, was very tough and incredibly difficult. Just try and win it..." Although Chiel was well aware that the team management was watching the race, he says it didn't influence his decisions. "I just rode as I always would. Because you can put on a mask at that moment, but if they choose you, you can't do that forever."
No contract, but motivation
After two days of giving it his all, Chiel ultimately didn't win the internship. A bummer? "No, I look back on it very positively. It was a good step in my development, and I'll take it with me mainly as extra motivation. That's what Thijs also said on the phone: 'Let the fact that you made it to the final five be your motivation, and not the other way around.' That's exactly what I do."
With a wealth of new experiences and motivation, Chiel is looking ahead to the rest of the season. "There are still some great races to come. As a team, we're in first place in the Club Competition, and we really want to hold on to that position. The Ronde van de Achterhoek is also coming up, which is simply a fantastic race. I hope we can achieve some good results as a team as well. How great would it be if one of us won another race in the Club Competition, and we all contributed to it?! Then I'd cheer just as loudly as if I won myself!" To achieve these goals, every detail counts. For an aerodynamic advantage this season, Chiel and his teammates are relying on aerodynamic products from Airoman.cc , from aero socks to base layers !
Follow Chiel (and others Airoman.cc riders) up close via our Instagram @airomancyclingclub or read more on Airoman.cc in the next edition of Rhythm of the Road.