Laurens Ten Dam, the Flying Dutchman

Few will ever forget the horrific Tour de France crash, and the images that followed of Dutch rider Laurens Ten Dam a few years back. These days the bubbly lowlander is smashing the gravel, but can be found racing and winning some of the biggest gravel races in the world.

Here are a few grabs from a chat we had a while back.

ST; How is life now compared to when you were racing road?

LTD; Almost every pro rider only feels good about themselves when they train right and eat well – and when they are improving.

When I had Covid earlier this year I had plenty of other things to do, and to feel good about (most pro’s don’t have this) because I do business administration for all of the companies, and so I feel good about that.

I’m also still a dad, and so I go to the skate-park and go mountainbiking with my kids. There are so many things other than riding my bike to feel good about now. That, maybe, even makes me ride faster now.

Life is definitely busier now; I ride my bike in the morning, and am at the computer in the afternoon.

ST; What does the whole gravel racing and riding scene mean to you, and how serious are results to you?

LTD; Maybe the other stuff is more important now, but when I’m racing I do try to to the step up and to beat all of the young and eager guys. I’m 41 and those guys 25-30 and wanting to win LifeTime GP and become pro.

But, to be honest, I’ve been there and done that, and I have done top 10 in those grand tours, and so have been to the level they maybe want to go to.

For me it’s a lot more about the journey towards the racing, and to have fun. I’ve seen everything in cycling and I’m still out there travelling the US racing bikes and having fun.

It would be really bad if I was going home and my moods were dependent on the results, which is not the case now.

In the past, if I came back from Paris-Nice and I sucked and wanted to lose a Kilogram or so then I would be grumpy, and I don’t want to do that, I don’t want to go there again. Now I’m here just to represent LSRF, to represent my sponsors, and to have fun with the friends I take on these trips.

Of course, when I’m on the start line I want to win, to get the best out of myself. I’m still a racer and like to pin a number on and put my head on the line. But, my moods don’t depend on the results, and that’s the difference now.

ST; With the advantage of hindsight what your career advice be to a 17 year old Laurens?

LTD; I wouldn’t do anything different. I’m happy with my results and can be proud of that, because I know how I did it.

Of course you could always ask for more, but I’m satisfied with my road career. I only won 2 races, but maybe because of my podcast people still recognise me.

I didn’t expect to still be racing bikes and getting paid for it, so it’s perhaps still living the dream I guess.

ST; The most famous image of you if riding with that horrific bandaged face injury. What was it like and how did it impact you?

LTD; For the first 2 years I couldn’t look at that picture, because I knew I made a mistake. Every time I looked it made me remember that I made that mistake going into that corner.

But 3-4 years later I got a painting from a Dutch artist of that moment, and it’s in my living room. Now I can embrace it, and when I look at it I don’t get that weird taste in my mouth any more.

It is what it is, and I made the best of it. I don’t know if I’m proud of finishing that race, because when I look back at my career I did some weird stuff to finish races, and I don’t know if it was the best for me or my body. But I had a crazy drive and need back them, which was why I was good, as I wasn’t the most talented guy.

When all things all lined up I could go with Valverde or Contador, but it was not very often, as I was way less talented than them. That race (and crash) was a mistake, but I can also say that I did top ten in those races.