INTERVIEW - FAST FIVE
Hendricus "Henk" Vogels is a former professional road cyclist who retired from competition at
the end of the 2008 season. He won the Australian national road race title in 1999 and was an
Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder. Vogels road in the Tour De France as well as the
Paris-Roubaix and now provides expert opinion for SBS Cycling Central and will be covering this
year’s Tour De France. Vogels will also be joining the Velo Tours Cycling group in the Pyrenees where
he will ride and entertain the group with his stories of glories past.
Multisport Magazine caught up with Henk recently for ‘Fast Five’.
M
ultisport Magazine: What have you been doing since your
retirement?
Henk Vogels: I retired in 2008 after a 15-year career. I stepped
straight in as Director Sportiff with V Australia, Rusvelo, and Drapac
which I really enjoyed. I have been coaching, public speaking and I am also the
brand ambassador for FRF Sports where I get to ride a lovely Colnago which I
sell to retailers around Australia. This allows me to do some great group rides
all around the country.
I also work as an analyst and host for SBS for all their International Cycling
races which they broadcast live on TV. I have 4 children Jett, Toby, Elke and
Mack - so juggling all the above keeps me busy.
MSM: How are you enjoying life behind the microphone with SBS?
HV: I love working for SBS on their cycling coverage. I have a great rapport
with Michael Tomolaris, Robbie McEwen and Mathew Keenan. I know all
the races on the calendar intimately and I love providing my opinion to the
coverage. I have to hold my tongue sometimes as at times I really want to ‘let
loose with expletives’ as I am passionate about the sport. I remember last
year when Matt Hayman won the Paris Roubaix I was standing on the table
screaming at the screen and yelling him on- that would have been a good TV
moment – right?
MSM: Where do you see pro cycling now and into the future?
HV: Pro cycling, is still growing and becoming more popular every year, we
have some absolute superstars in Sagan, Van Avermaart, Kittel, and Froome to
name just a few. And there is always plenty action at every turn, at every race
which makes the coverage exciting.
In the future, I would love to see some big conglomerate come in and create
a new format which makes racing more spectator friendly with on board
cameras and to make the sport more interactive. The UCI has started doing
this but there is a group called Velon who really want to shake things up but
we need to remember that this sport dates back to the late 18th century and
it’s hard to change things quickly.
MSM: You are now the Velo Tours ambassador. How did this come about?
HV: I met the Velo Tours group through a good friend of mine and I have
come on board as an ambassador for this year’s Tour De France and beyond
after working with them on the TDF in 2016. I was very impressed with the
organisation last year and couldn’t resist to be part of the team
moving forward.
We have some big things planned for next year and I just can’t wait to get
into it with them. I’ll be with Velo Tours in 2018 at the Tour Down Under, the
Classics, the Giro and of course the Tour De France again.
MSM: How did you enjoy last year’s TDF with Velo Tours?
HV: I started on their Alps tour in the TDF for 3 days and absolutely loved it. I
copped a hiding on the climbs from most of the riders as I wasn’t very fit but
I really enjoyed it. I rode the TDF in 1997 through the Alps but back then I was
glued to the wheel in front of me, holding on for ‘dear life’ to make the time
cut which was during the Armstrong era.
But this time around I could just soak in the beautiful scenery the Alps
provides and enjoy the riding and the camaraderie. We stayed in Bourg De
Oissons right at the foot of the Alpe d’Huez, and it was brilliant - the food and
wine was great and at that time of the year the weather is nice and hot.
The Velo Tours team know just about every road in the Alps so it was a well
organised for beginners, intermediate and the fast guys.
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