Today at 8:00 PM • Updated today at 9:06 PM
From an early age, Martijn Rasenberg dreamed of cycling major classics such as the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. The 24-year-old professional from Steenbergen will get the chance next Sunday in ‘Flanders Most Beautiful’ and a week later in France. “I’m down to earth as a person, but I have to pinch myself a little bit sometimes.”
It was no surprise that Martijn started cycling at a young age. “My grandfather used to cycle, so did my father and uncles. When I was 7 years old, my grandfather gave me a racing bike. I was so happy,” says Rasenberg.
In his youth, Rasenberg was known as talented and he regularly won competitions. With the newcomers (15/16 years) and juniors (17/18), he felt that there was more to it than just cycling for fun. “It was not that I always thought I was good enough to become a professional. However, I remained motivated to get the most out of it, even in periods when things were not going well.”
He was given the opportunity with the continental training team Parkhotel Valkenburg and won a competition in his own country in 2023, 2024 and 2025. He was also the fastest in the Luxembourg stage race Flèche du Sud in 2025. Last year he cycled as a trainee for a quarter with the Swiss professional team Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, but a contract was ultimately not possible. It did not mean the end of his professional dream, because at the end of 2025 he signed with Unibet Tietema Rockets.
“I see this as a learning year, because you have to learn how to best ride a race.”
The cycling team with Dutch roots is developing rapidly. He was allowed to participate in the opening classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and he will be on the start list for the Tour of Flanders next Sunday. “There are few races in the world that are more beautiful than the Tour. I see it as a reward for all the years that I have invested in cycling. I am grateful to the team for the opportunity.”
It is still difficult for him to estimate what he will experience in Belgium on Sunday. “What I noticed at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is that the level in the entire peloton is extremely high. I see this as a learning year, because you have to learn how to best ride a race. Every race you as a team have to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to achieve the best possible result. But you never know how a race will go.”
Not only the level takes some getting used to, but also the distances. At 278 kilometers, the Tour of Flanders is by far the longest race that the 1.94 meter tall Rasenberg has ever ridden. “In Denmark I once rode 230 kilometers, but otherwise races were a maximum of 200 kilometers. Normally I am a fan of the heavier, the better. Better that than a parade to the finish.”
“I started cycling to win races.”
In addition to suffering, he wants to enjoy the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, with family members on the sidelines, and Paris-Roubaix a week later. A grand tour is also on his wish list. “I am discovering where I stand as a cyclist at this level. In the past, I started cycling to win races, and I would like to do that in the future. But the ambition will depend on the development I go through. In any case, I am in the right place with this team. A nice mix of experience and talent and excellent guidance.”
