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Former Premier League ace Jelle Van Damme looks unrecognisable as he swaps his boots for a pair of cycling cleats after becoming a professional cyclist
Former Wolves man Jelle Van Damme is now a professional cyclist(Image: PA)
Former Premier League ace Jelle Van Damme has turned to cycling following his football retirement.
Footballers aren’t often seen as the perfect build to succeed on two wheels, despite turbo trainer exercises taking up a key part of their workout and recovery. But the ex-Belgium international tried to buck that trend.
The former Southampton and Wolves defender retired in 2020 with his hometown club Lokeren before pursuing his passion for cycling.
Van Damme has trained alongside Belgian legend and Olympic gold medallist Greg Van Avermaet.
Working with the perfect coach, the 41-year-old plans to compete in a series of events, including Unbound, a brutal event held on the gravel roads of Kansas. “If I could have my time over again I would set out to be a racing cyclist – despite all I have experienced in football,” Van Damme said.
Van Damme is eyeing a series of professional events(Image: Alamy Stock Photo)
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“I think I would succeed given my mindset and personality. I always compare myself to [Belgian pro] Tim Declercq. I’m not someone who looks to win the races, but a good ‘servant’ who helps my teammates achieve the best possible finish.
“My passion for the sport has grown. I have taken on a coach, and I now have full sponsorship. I want to peak this year at the Unbound event in the US.
“I began cycling with my brothers and nephews, doing 40-50km rides, but now I can do 120km distances. Just like in football, I can suffer on the bike. I can break down, but I’ll recover quickly. As an athlete I will want more when I see that I’m getting better.
The Belgian also played for Southampton
“I can be a right b***ard at times. I was like that as a footballer, and I’m the same now when I get on my bike. I think I can ride well, and when I’m in a peloton I am not afraid to throw myself around.
“My family group calls me Kamikaze, as I’ll go from zero to flying round bends at top speed. Once an athlete, always an athlete.”
Van Damme was part of the 2023 Turbo Cross event, Belgian cycling’s answer to Soccer Aid, with Belgian celebs taking to the cyclo-cross course at Diegem.
Van Damme joined Southampton in 2004 from Ajax but played just nine times in two years before he joined Anderlecht.
The defender came back to the Premier League in 2010 as Wolves paid £2.5million but he returned to his homeland again six months later after making only six appearances.
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