If you follow pro cycling, Nathan Van Hooydonck is a name you’ve seen in the engine room of the sport—pulling for leaders, closing gaps, and doing the gritty work that wins Grand Tours. I’m writing this guide to capture who he is, why he mattered long before headlines, and how his story after 2023 turned into something bigger than results.
Who is Nathan Van Hooydonck—and why did teams trust him so much?
Nathan Van Hooydonck (born October 12, 1995, in Gooreind, Belgium) built his reputation as a rouleur and classics-savvy domestique, notably at Jumbo-Visma (now Team Visma | Lease a Bike). He stands 1.92 m tall, rides powerfully in crosswinds, and played key roles supporting leaders at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.
His palmarès hints at the kind of rider he was: a stage win at Ronde de l’Oise (2016), second at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (2023), and contribution to Visma’s team time trial win at Paris-Nice (2023). Those results matter—but the larger value was his tireless support in the biggest races, where he helped deliver overall victories and one-day dominance for teammates like Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard.
Image Credit: Cycling News
What happened in 2023—and why did he retire so young?
On September 12, 2023, Van Hooydonck experienced a medical episode while driving, causing a traffic accident. After extensive tests, doctors fitted an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Because UCI regulations prevent athletes with an ICD from competing, he retired on September 20, 2023, at age 27.
The news sent a shock through the peloton—and fans—because he wasn’t just a teammate; he was a tone-setter in the hardest parts of races. Van Aert and others publicly praised his years of selfless work, underscoring how teams are built on riders like Nathan who make winning possible.
Where is Nathan Van Hooydonck now?
Rather than step away from cycling, Van Hooydonck stayed with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. He initially joined the team’s hospitality group, then moved into a commercial role—remaining a visible, articulate ambassador for the sport and his team. He also contributes media and punditry work, sharing insight you only get from someone who’s been deep inside WorldTour tactics.
On the personal side, his journey includes both heartbreak and hope. He and his partner suffered the loss of their newborn son at the end of 2021. In 2025, the family welcomed a daughter, Isabella—a joyful update that resonated widely across cycling media.
Image Credit: Team Visma
How did his riding style shape races?
Van Hooydonck thrived in “dirty” race scenarios—wind, rain, pressure points before key climbs, and narrow roads where position means everything. As a tall, powerful rouleur, he could:
- Control breakaways and tempo for hours.
- Keep leaders out of the wind in crosswind echelons.
- Close late gaps that would have otherwise shattered GC ambitions.
That kind of duty rarely wins headlines, but it wins races. He was part of the machinery behind dominant team performances during Visma’s peak years.
What makes Nathan Van Hooydonck a model modern domestique?
In today’s analytics-driven peloton, a domestique must combine raw watts with spatial awareness and cool decision-making. Van Hooydonck brought that balance. He could float near the front for hours, handle cobbles and crosswinds, and switch from bodyguard to bulldozer as the race script demanded.
He also represented a culture of trust. Leaders rely on riders who never panic, never flinch, and know the course rope-a-dope moments—narrowings, exposed ridges, and pinch points before climbs—where positioning determines outcomes. Van Hooydonck excelled at those “hidden wins.”
What can fans learn from his story?
First, that pro cycling’s biggest victories are collective. Second, that athletes are people first; careers can pivot in a day. And third, that there’s life after the bike—roles in operations, sponsorship, hospitality, and media keep former riders close to the sport they love. Van Hooydonck’s post-retirement path is a strong template for riders navigating forced transitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Nathan Van Hooydonck still racing?
No. He retired on September 20, 2023, after doctors fitted an ICD following a medical episode that led to a traffic accident. Current rules prohibit competing with an ICD at the elite level.
2. What teams did he ride for?
He rode for BMC development/CCC structures earlier in his career and then for Jumbo-Visma (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) from 2021–2023, where he became a key domestique in classics and Grand Tours.
3. What are his standout results?
Beyond deep teamwork contributions, highlights include a stage win at Ronde de l’Oise (2016), second at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (2023), and a team time trial win at Paris-Nice (2023). He also earned Belgium’s 2023 “Crystal Drop of Sweat” award for best domestique.
4. What is he doing now?
He remains with Team Visma | Lease a Bike in commercial/hospitality roles and appears as a cycling pundit, offering analysis drawn from recent WorldTour experience.
The Legacy of Nathan Van Hooydonck Is Bigger Than Results
In a results-obsessed sport, Nathan Van Hooydonck reminds us that the strongest glue in a winning team isn’t just watts—it’s trust, resilience, and humanity. His career validated the value of world-class domestiques; his retirement showed how quickly life can change; and his next chapter proves there are meaningful ways to keep shaping the sport from the other side of the barriers.
And while cycling often celebrates superstar names like Tadej Pogačar, riders like Van Hooydonck are the ones who build the foundation for those legends to rise. Without the tireless engines who control the chaos and create opportunities, even the brightest talents would struggle to shine. That’s the quiet brilliance of Nathan’s legacy—and why the cycling world won’t forget him anytime soon.
