HELPING OUR CLIENTS ACHIEVE THEIR INDIVIDUAL CYCLING GOALS BY ADAPTING TRAINING TECHNIQUES AS APPLIED IN THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL CYCLING
As busy professionals, time management is challenging. As result, we often end up cramming in a ride before or after work or jump on a smart-trainer for a quick virtual workout. By the weekend, we struggle in keeping up at faster group rides, feel weak and fatigued and eventually end up discouraged.
Whether you are a beginner, seasoned rider or elite racer, training rigor is critical but more importantly, training correctly, requires experience and professional guidance.
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My aim is to help you identify and develop your optimal cycling ability through experiential coaching techniques enabled by training software and my own professional racing experience. Our holistic approach will help you see improvement in not only your physical ability but we will also help you improve your mental agility in preparing yourself for goal events. Optional tactical coaching and education will enable you to fully enjoy and develop your cycling capabilities in all areas with personal encouragement and professional support throughout your journey with us.
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As former professional cyclist with participation in international cycling monuments such as "De Ronde van Vlaanderen" and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, I have studied the sport of cycling for more than 30 years. Having had mentorship throughout my own professional racing career from world class coaches and athletes, I have experienced first hand the value of professional training in preparation for goal events. My passion for cycling and mentorship, in combination with my post cycling career in management consulting, allows me to offer you a differentiated experience, professionally structured and hands on in helping you become fitter and stronger.
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All consultations are done individually by phone or virtual meeting to set realistic goals aligned to your lifestyle needs.
We look forward to having you on our team.
COACHING OPTIONS
Ready to race like Eddy? We offer two subscription options to help you elevate your cycling game. The Cannibal, powered by TrainingPeaks, with the optional addition of one-on-one consultation sessions through "The professor" option.
THE CANNIBAL- EDDY MERCKX
Attentive virtual coaching powered by TrainingPeaks to provide you with an interactive platform to access your individual training plan and receive training feedback.
Let us help you train like a pro and navigate the phases of goal setting, periodization and load planning tailored to your unique lifestyle needs and level of riding experience.
Eddy Merckx, Flemish cycling god and one of the most successful professional cyclists of all time trained and raced like a true professional. He was nicknamed "The Cannibal" by a teammate's daughter, from overhearing her father say, Merckx would never allow anyone else to win!
THE PROFESSOR- LAURENT FIGNON
Personal one-on-one consultations by phone or virtual meetings to supplement your training and goal events helping you prepare like a pro. With a focus on mental skills development and tactical education for riding and racing smarter. Supplement your own training planning (e.g. WAHOO SYSTM or Zwift Training Plans) with professional support and evaluation.
Laurent Fignon, a smart, educated and tenacious rider not only looked the part but won many races by outsmarting his opponents. Leverage your coach's experience in having raced internationally in the Flemish classics and around the globe as a professional rider.
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MEET YOUR COACH
Former professional cyclist
Johan van der Berg
Born in Kimberley South Africa in 1976, Johan demonstrated athletic ability from a young age. Cycling became his passion after witnessing the spectacle of a stage finish in South Africa's only domestic "grand tour" at the time, the "Rapport Toer" of 1988. The stage finished in his hometown of Knysna, won by an Italian invitational rider, Gianni Boscolo, in a bunch sprint. That was the moment Johan's dream started with the ultimate goal of turning professional.
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After finishing high school at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch South Africa, Johan enrolled at the University of Stellenbosch where he later obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Commercial Law.
During his early cycling career, he participated in South Africa's major domestic professional cycling events such as the Boland Bank Tour (95,96) Sanlam Kermesse Series (96) and Giro del Capo (96,98,99,02,03 and 04). At the time, these events attracted some of the best riders in the World, including Tour de France stars of the era such as Alexander Vinokourov, Jan Ullrich, Johan Bruyneel and 1994 Giro d'Italia winner, Evgeni Berzin.
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Johan's first international breakthrough came at the 1999 edition of the Giro del Capo, where he narrowly missed out on the yellow jersey by a mere second in the opening prologue stage, beaten by an accomplished Dutch professional, Jans Koerts. This result, helped him into Europe where he lined up in his 1st European professional race in Cologne Germany at the Rund um Koln. Johan raced across Europe over the summer and signed a contract with Dutch feeder team, Farm-Frites, which later in the year allowed him to do a trial contract (stagiaire) with top Dutch team TVM. Over a three year period he raced on seasoned professional teams including Belgium outfits Collstrop and Landbouwkrediet-Colnago until 2001.
European career highlights include participation in the Belgium Spring Classics and monuments in cycling including the Tour of Flanders and Liege- Bastogne-Liege. Other highlights including participation in races such as Gent-Wevelgem, Fleche Wallonne, GP Frankfurt, LUK Cup Buhl, GP Plouay, Milano-Torino and a number of French Cup Series events in 2000 and 2001.
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Johan returned to South African home soil for the 2002 season with the exciting proposition to join Africa's first Tour de France dream team, Team Microsoft, managed by well know cycling team owner, Douglas Ryder (now leading Q36.5). Over a 2 year period, highlights included South African National Team representation at the Tour of the Southlands in New Zealand, Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia and the Tour of Korea. He also won a number of domestic races on the professional calendar including a popular stage win at the 2002 Giro del Capo claiming the first South African win of the tour that year that was dominated by international star riders like Fabian Cancellara riding for the U-23 Mapei Quick Step team at the time.
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In 2004, after six full professional racing seasons, Johan decided to retire from road racing in pursuit of a corporate career. Since then, Johan's passion for cycling continued in supporting enthusiastic cyclists through VDB Cycling.
In 2016, Johan relocated to the United States where he now lives with his wife in Charlotte, NC.
LET'S CONNECT
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Charlotte NC, 28203
