After a long wait, the bullet finally hit the church at Alpecin. After all, they found a new co-main sponsor with Premier Tech. This was announced on Friday during a press conference. And guess what? Mathieu van der Poel turned out – not entirely surprisingly – to have a decisive influence.
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Not the first coffee
Although Van der Poel was certainly not the only factor why Premier Tech was interested in a collaboration with Alpecin. After all, the Roodhoofts are no strangers, CEO Jean Bélanger makes it clear: “We already knew each other. I have been drinking a glass of wine or a cup of coffee with Philip for the past five years.”
So they immediately got an advantage, because the interest in Premier Tech was absolutely present: “More than ten team managers have called me in recent months to ask if we wanted to do business with them,” says Bélanger. This team didn’t do that.” Thanks to their good relationship.
“The bond with the Roodhooft brothers had existed for years. So it was logical to work together,” Bélanger concludes that there was also a preference on their part. And then of course there was an extra pigment.
Van der Poel in decisive role
Because which sponsor wouldn’t want to work with someone like Van der Poel? An absolute winner that can be of invaluable value to the sponsor. Bélanger makes no secret of this.
“Mathieu is the icing on the cake. It is special to be part of a team with such top players,” the Dutchman turned out to have helped to decide on a collaboration.
Philip Roodhooft also always had confidence in a good outcome: “They have a heart for cycling and really wanted to stay. Everyone knew that we did not yet have the perfect picture for the long term at that time. Because we already knew each other, it was a logical step for them and for us too.”
