Gosselin mover to World cycling championship on rollers

Stefan Van Aelst works as a mover and warehouseman at Meys Verhuizingen in Brasschaat which was taken over by Gosselin in 2022. He participated in the World Roller Cycling Championships as one of the most punishing amateur riders among the pros.

E-racing was initially used by cyclists to train during the winter months, but gained popularity through Covid-19. Meanwhile, it has become a real sport in its own right with virtual cycling platforms such as MyWhoosh and Zwift. Before the World Cup in Abu Dhabi, global qualifiers were held.

"The bike and the rollers each have a power meter and they have to match exactly so you can't electronically up your speed. We also had to send a video every week and weigh ourselves because the power you pedal is divided by your body weight. This way, they checked that everything is fair," Stefan explains. In the end, he was allowed to go to Abu Dhabi as part of the Belgian delegation after posting the third best score in the semi-finals.

Illness and high temperatures eventually thwarted him. "I lost several kilos during the training sessions. It was like cycling in an oven. That combined with illness meant I went completely over my limit and even spent some time in hospital." Still, it was an incredible experience for Stefan. He had taken a holiday from work and stayed a few more days to explore Abu Dhabi. "Next year I'll try again!"

That Stefan is a sporty guy is well known. For example, he became Belgian Champion in the 800-metre run in 2011 and last summer he cycled up Mont Ventoux barely four minutes slower than Wout van Aert. With the acquisition of Gosselin, he now also works for a company that invests in sports. "Ther is always some sports news in the internal magazine. I think it's super that so much emphasis is put on the importance of some sportmanship in life."

(Stefan is standing on the far right in the photo)

ABOUT GOSSELIN: 

Gosselin was founded in 1930 and currently employs more than 1,000 people generating a total turnover of more than 450 million euros. Gosselin is headquartered on the Albert Canal in Deurne, where its container terminal connects the port of Antwerp Bruges and the port of Rotterdam with the European hinterland. With 56 offices in 34 countries, the company has a strong presence in Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The Gosselin Group consists of two divisions: Gosselin Moving and Gosselin Logistics.

Gosselin Moving handles international removals for multinationals, expats, diplomats, military personnel and private individuals.

Gosselin Logistics provides logistics services to companies, with activities ranging from freight forwarding, warehouse storage and container handling to industrial logistics projects for heavy machinery and entire factories.