The start. 12th of December 2008
12 december 2008
Varsseveld – The best part of the Friday eve in Varsseveld was saved for last. The finish of the creation of the Fanclub Robert Gesink consisted the unveiling of the logo. And it was the cyclist himself who performed the official act, along with his grandfather.
The father of the father of Robert Gesink had some wise words in store for his grandson. “Stay in your shoes. And I hope that you ever will stick the logo on the podium of the Champs-Elysées.”
That French boulevard is traditionally the end of the Tour de France, the round Gesink will ride for the first time in 2009. Also in his second professional year he surprised friend and enemy with his results (La Fleche Wallonne, Olympic Games, World Championships and the seventh place in La Vuelta). The fact that the birth Varssevelder despite his young age(22) has his own real fan club, is not a huge surprise.
The lounge of café D’Olde Mölle was packed last night. For Robert Gesink himself, with a contract till 2012 at Rabobank, it was a feast of recognition. Many family members and lots of friends. The tawny climber does not like to be in the limelight for large groups, but the embarrassment disappeared last night in his familiar surroundings. It was not difficult for Gesink to get the laughers on his hand with comments like ‘The tour of Varsseveld is still a peak moment for me’ and he felt visibly comfortable. The rider answered some questions of the spokesman Fred te Hennepe (who took the initiative for the formation of the fan club with Wim Legters and Henk Houwer) and he also saw his season flashed in photos. The three founders also showed a video of Erica Terpstra. The president of NOCNSF spoke praised words about Gesink.
The idea for the formation of the fan club was created at the kermis of Varsseveld. The initiators (Wim Legters, Fred te Hennepe & Henk Houwer) only wanted to work out their plan if the principal person likes the plan. That proved to be and Gesink said last night, ‘I like it very much. It is a good idea of the three men to establish a club. They work very serious.’
Gesink, now living in Aalten, was pleased with the turnout. “Fantastic. It shows how many people in the Achterhoek and Varsseveld sympathize with me. The fan club is also going to organize trips to events. I hope that they travel with lots of busses, which make it more fun for me.”
The first bus trip will be the trip to the Amstel Gold Race. Gesink: “That is the first race next season were I want to be good and where I want to finish as short as possible.”
Members are welcome at the Robert Gesink Fan day every year in November. Furthermore Gesink wants to ride with his fans, once a year. He fears no overload: “I’m quite full and I try to pick with interviews and television shows. But there is always one week where you are doing nothing and in this week an activity like this does not compromise on cycling.
Besides organizing bus trips to different cycling events, the fan club will also sell fan wear. You can buy the fan wear in two kinds of versions, the official fan wear with the Robert Gesink Fanclub Varsseveld logo and the unofficial fan wear without Varsseveld in the logo.
Become a member for only 15 euros a year. Register as a member on www.robertgesink.nl