Stay Home Story with Taco van der Hoorn

How are you?
I am fine. So are my family and friends. We are all healthy. That is the most important thing right now. I get through the days by riding my bike, doing jobs in and around the house and more activities like that. In the first week after the government had introduced the restrictions, I found that mentally very difficult. Especially when I started to realise that the race targets I had set for myself could be taken off the table. In the end, I was able to quickly switch my mind because there are more important things in life than just bike racing.

What do your workouts and training look like at the moment?
In the first week after the restrictions had come into effect I rode my bike a lot to keep myself fit and to be ready for whenever we were able to race again. When it became clear that this would take a long time, I slowed down. Now I take it a bit easier to re-start and build up my form again later. Currently, the weather is very nice and we are lucky to be allowed to still ride outside. However, I do follow the government guidelines and do my training alone. I have no problem with that. I also do the necessary training on the Tacx and I recently started with Zwift. I was a bit skeptical about it, but it’s actually a lot of fun to do. I also do more core-stability and power training now. I also focus on the things I don’t normally do. Workouts with a different intensity and also explosiveness.

How do you get on with your days?
Jan Willem van Schip is my housemate, so we do spar a lot. We also do the necessary board games and I read a lot of books. We are also busy cleaning and refurbishing the house and shed. All things you normally don’t have time for as a top athlete. I have also rearranged my old Volkswagen van, so we can start touring around. However, the van must first pass the MOT soon.

How do you motivate yourself?
I have no problem motivating myself. Despite the fact we can’t race, I really enjoy riding my bike in general. In good weather I can easily ride for six hours without having a particular purpose. However, I do motivate myself by challenging and improving myself in certain areas. Call it personal development. Think of explosiveness and V02max. Together with performance manager Mathieu Heijboer I have made a schedule based on a scientific article. I hope to develop myself further in the upcoming period. I get my satisfaction from that.

Which series or movies do you watch at the moment?
I don’t watch series very often. It is annoying that you often have to wait a whole season before the storyline ends. You don’t have that with a movie. I do watch Netflix series Tiger King. It is about a man in the United States who calls himself Joe Exotic and his enemy Carole Baskin. ‘Exotic’ mainly breeds tigers and other felines and then exhibits them in a private zoo. I am also more of a film person. The best movie I’ve ever seen is Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island. I am also a big fan of Quentin Tarantino. Think in particular of Reservoir Dogs, the Inglourious Basterds and Once upon a Time in Hollywood.

Which songs do you play on your playlist by default?
I listen to a wide variety of music. It depends on what flow I am in and what kind of training I have on the program that day. For example, if I have interval training, I mainly listen to techno. This is to get ready for my efforts. During power training, for example, I listen to the rap group Opgezwolle. In my spare time I listen to different music. I am also a big fan of the old vinyl records. I still have such an old record player at home. Especially Dire Straits and Spinvis I play regularly. In addition to music, I also like to listen to the spoken newspapers and articles on Blendl or to a good podcast.

Do you have any tips for people to stay fit?
I recently discovered Zwifting on the Tacx. That is very cool to do. If people have Zwift or something similar at home, I recommend that they use it more often. You can participate in a race, but group training rides is also an option. There are many options to keep things interesting. But the most important thing is that you do something that you enjoy and that you feel most comfortable with. Then you can last the longest.

What is your favourite dish?
Risotto! Delicious. I especially don’t make the Risotto too fat. So not like the recipes with butter, for example. Via the Jumbo Food Coach we also have access to a variety of recipes we can choose from. That is really cool. For breakfast I usually eat oatmeal with fruit or Teff pancakes.

What other sports do you like?
Cross-country skiing seems fun to do, but unfortunately that has never happened yet. I was on a holiday in Canada last November to go cross-country skiing. Only then there was not enough snow. So I definitely have to make up for that. During big sport events such as the Olympic Games I like to watch athletics and various winter sports. Especially the sports that have a lot in common with cycling.

What is your favourite game?
It all depends on how much I want to think and use my brains. When I don’t want to think too much, I play Rummikub or Yahtzee. If I do want to spin my brain, I mainly play Yinsh. In that game you have to think about many, many steps to eventually win the game. I am not into the video games. Jan-Willem has one here, but if I use it once or twice a year it is a lot. Sometimes I participate when the boys play FIFA on the PlayStation at training camp, but I am not really good at it.

Which apps on your phone are running in overtime?
Spotify and Blendl. On Blendl I mainly listen to the spoken newspapers and articles. Furthermore, my phone is pretty quiet and there aren’t many apps that run overtime really.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Beer! I am a lover of specialty beers. I really enjoy that. And as a top athlete it should be possible in due time. Now you will maybe wonder what my favourite special beer is? Kasteel donker. They sell them at the Jumbo and they are delicious.