From the moment he could ride a bike, Milan Vader was hooked. At just two years old, he asked for a “grote fiets” (big bicycle) for his birthday, and he’s never looked back. 

Originally from Middelburg in the Netherlands, Milan has spent years on the road, training across Europe, with Spain becoming his second home. Yet no matterhow far he travels, Holland is where he feels most grounded. “Spain is for the physical gains,” he says, “Holland is for the mental ones.” Flat roads, coastalwinds, and familiar landscapes provide balance to the intense training blocks spent under the Spanish sun, often starting at sunrise. 

A former mountain biker, Milan still carries that instinct for adventure and technical terrain. It’s no surprise that races that feature gravel light a spark in him, especially events like Strade Bianche, where speed, skill, and freedom collide. That feeling of flying over rough roads is where he feels most alive. 

His approach to racing is rooted in consistency, curiosity, and teamwork. Every day is about testing, adapting, and improving together. The goal remains clear: to cross the line with his hands in the air. 

One memory stands above the rest. Just days before the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, Milan went out for a long ride along the Japanese coastline. The scenerywas breathtaking, but it was the reflection that stayed with him, a quiet moment of pride, nerves building, and the realization of how far the journey had takenhim. 

For Milan Vader, cycling is more than racing: it’s exploration, growth, and the constant pursuit of that feeling you only get when everything clicks.