“I came home from the World Tour and for two years I made 15-20 grand a year and lived with my parents,” Vermeulen shared, adding that during that time he was looking for the right partners -those willing to play the long game - while also establishing himself as an off-road racer. But forcing a path of your own is never easy. He knew he wanted to build long term relationships with the right brands and people and create something more meaningful. He was only 23 afterall, and still very much developing as a bike racer. (Image credit: Pearl Izumi) Setting Off on His Ownįollowing his brief stint in the World Tour, Vermeulen knew he wasn’t done racing bikes, and wanted to pursue a program of his own. It's such a stroke of luck, not a stroke of genius, but once you find them, you have to commit yourself to being more than just the athlete, because professional athletes can be f***ing selfish,” Vermeulen said. “I love the business side, but to be honest, it's hard. While at the same time, he’s dabbling in marketing, and broadening the appeal of, and adding value to, the still-niche sport that is cycling. For one, he’s racing a unique, self-set calendar and building an increasingly impressive palmarès.
You have to find value for sponsors beyond you as a racer.”Īs American cycling grapples with its identity, culture and business, Vermeulen has carved out his own slice of the pie. But it's that being a full-rounded, privateer that I think is important nowadays, that it's not just your race results. “I also want to preface that some of that budget comes from what I do outside of my own racing, from side projects and other endeavors. I want that to grow so everyone can make a living doing what they love, because it’s been a fight to get there.” “Over six figures,” the 27-year-old stated. And getting to where he is today took a lot of courage, persistence and well, marketing chops.
“To be able to be one of 10, maximum 20 privateers who are making money fully through cycling is pretty dang cool.”Īs part of LottoNL-Jumbo, Vermeulen, then just 21 years old, was making an annual salary of 65,000 Euro, which he was “very, very happy” with, before they dropped him without so much as an explanation as to why.
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