Emile-Victor Goethals: “I’m looking forward to Paris-Roubaix”

Get to know one of the youngest members of our staff.

 

Emile joined AG Insurance - Soudal prior to the 2025 season, and that first year with the team turned out to be an unforgettable one for him: “I began in UAE, then I did Liège–Bastogne–Liège - where I got to see Kim’s historic triumph - the Giro, and the Tour. I was truly impressed by the way this team operates and is organized, while simultaneously experiencing many memorable victories and a wealth of emotions. I hope for something similar this year.”

 

His enthusiasm for cycling ignited at the age of 16, while taking part in a 24-hour cycling event with his scout troop in 2016. During his youth, he also explored football, tennis, and climbing, but none of these activities evoked the same thrill as cycling. As he puts it, “cycling is unique. It allows you to travel, discover many things and places, and meet numerous people. You enjoy every single moment spent in the sport.”

Being a mechanic for a World Tour team comes with a lot of responsibilities, however, Emile is quick to emphasize that his job is made easier by Park Tool, one of our squad’s technical partners: “Park Tool is one of the biggest brands in cycling. They have high-quality tools with a long lifespan and provide a wide range of products for every need. That makes you more confident in your day-to-day tasks.”

Only 24 years of age and hailing from Wallonia, Emile loves the one-day races, and the one closest to his heart is Brabantse Pijl, his home race, but he also loves De Ronde (with its iconic Paterberg) and Paris-Roubaix. He will be present at the latter this weekend with AG Insurance - Soudal, prepared to support the team as they tackle the famous cobbles of northern France. A challenging day for riders and staff alike, but Emile is looking forward to it.

 

“Paris-Roubaix is a race like no other, with a different bike set-up and tire pressure. With so many kilometers of cobbles, everything is completely different, from start to finish. It’s crazy and hectic the entire day, and you need to be on the top of your game. For us mechanics, ensuring that the bikes are in perfect condition at the start of the day is crucial, and we couldn’t do that without Park Tool. But their support doesn’t stop there, as we bring our Park Tool box with us during the race, which gives us the opportunity to fix the bikes when and if needed. There are many factors that can make a difference during such a race - one of the biggest in the world - and Park Tool are one of them, that’s why we consider ourselves fortunate to rely on their support and expertise.”