Matteo Vanhuffel

Young Belgian Matteo is a new recruit to the Development program in 2025, joining the team off the back of a promising two years in the junior ranks where he helped his teammates and showed his talents on the hillier terrain.  

Son of former cyclist, Wim, it was naturally Matteo’s dad that was his biggest inspiration for getting on the bike and trying out the sport.  

“He was either going out training or working on his bikes, and there was always cycling on the TV at home, so I really grew up with it. I was even training and practicing on the bike two years before I was allowed to join a club.”  

In that period before he could join a club, Matteo tried his hand at football, but it was only a stopgap and as soon as he turned the age of ten, he immediately joined his local club. Combining road and cyclocross to start off with, the latter really helped his “technique development” but in 2022 he fell out of love with mud-stomping and focused solely on the road thereafter. 

“I like to just go out on my bike and riding. I enjoy thinking about nothing for a few hours, only what I need to do for my training; listening to some music and clearing my head. The feeling you get after a hard training session is really rewarding and, in the races, I really like the adrenaline you get from it all.” 

When speaking about what he hopes to achieve in his career, Matteo almost takes a philosophical approach to things and views things from a more helicopter view.  

“I want to make a job out of my hobby; that’s my biggest motivation. Turning one of my biggest passions into work so that it never feels like a normal job.” 

However, with a wry smile creeping into the corner of his mouth Matteo also admits he has another driving force – to be better than his dad. 

 “If I was going to a race, he would say something like ‘Oh I did that race and finished in 11th’, so that really made me want to go out and get a top ten. It was all a bit of friendly competition so we could have a laugh and some bragging rights in the house.” 

On making the step up from the junior peloton to the U23’s there is an obvious excitement that creeps over Matteo’s face, and he’s excited to “work in a team that has so much history,” where there is also “a structure and lots of people to help you make those next steps.” 

The self-described “dedicated”, “considered” and “self-aware” Matteo is firmly keeping his feet on the ground for the coming years, knowing that the “hard work starts now” and that he won’t “put myself above others.”  

Ever the thinker, clearly living up to that considered nature, Matteo wants to give it his all to make his dream of becoming a pro a reality, developing with the team in a steady and good way.  

“It’s important to follow the steps and don’t rush or miss anything.” 

Away from the bike, Matteo is a mean cook who spending his evenings in the kitchen whipping up meals for himself and his family, trying out some new recipes. He’s also continuing his education, where he’s studying to be a dietician. So, if he’s not learning about food or cooking it up, then he’s also like most teenagers and enjoys spending time with his friends and family.