Marco Minnaard enjoyed a successul first professional season with the Wanty-Groupe Gobert team. The Dutchman is looking forward to next season and aims at improving his climbing skills.

Marco Minnaard made his professional debut with Wanty-Groupe Gobert this year. De 25-year old has learned a lot in his first season among the ‘big boys’.  
 
“There are so many things I could mention,” he says when asked what the most important lesson was.
 
“I think I learned to read races better. A good lesson has been how to divide your strength throughout the race and the season. Sometimes you have a bad day. I used to hate that but this year I learned to not panic straight away.”
 
Minnaard came over from the Rabobank Development Team and started in the Wanty-Groupe Gobert colours in January in Gabon. That’s where he obtained his first and only podium finish of the season: third in the fourth stage.
 
“I really had a wonderful race program in my first pro season. I could never have dreamt that beforehand.”
 
In 74 race days he rode over 11,500 kilometres in countries like Gabon. France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, England, Germany, Austria and of course his native the Netherlands.
 
“Before this season I had never done any races in Italy before,” Minnaard says. “There are great races there and the pace is always high. As a rider I am an allrounder but riding uphill starts to suit me more and more. I would like to develop myself further in that area.”
 
Sports director Steven De Neef accompanied Minnaard often in 2014. The former pro is very positive about the Dutchman.
 
“To me Marco was the surprise of the season. He became a real teamplayer who also has the abilities to get a result for himself.”
 
Minnaard almost did so in the Tour du Vendée. He found himself in a breakaway of four riders. A sprint would decide the winner. The Dutchman played all ar nothing in the last kilometre and finished fourth.
 
De Neef also acknowledges the climbing abilities of the young pro and sees potential there.
 
“Marco rides uphill well on the real cols and if he makes some more progress, he can become a very important rider for the team in the more difficult stage races.”
 
What is the biggest difference between riding in the U23-peloton and riding in the pro peloton?
 
“In the U23-category you just attack, attack and attack. Pro races are harder and there are many more of them as well. You really have to arrange your season well, but that also goes for each individual race. I have really learned this year that it’s not always about a result. If you do your job for the team well, that’s enough too,” he concludes.