Theo Bos has been appointed as the new coach of the Dutch BMX team, taking over from Martijn Jaspers, who stepped down from his position. Starting from January 1, 2025, Bos's focus will be on preparing the athletes for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Previously, Bos served as the head coach of the Chinese track cycling squad, where he honed his coaching skills post his illustrious career as one of the top sprinters on the track. His cycling accolades include five world championships and a silver medal from the 2004 Athens Olympics. "The role of coach has suited me well, and I have learned a great deal from my time with the Chinese track team," Bos said, emphasizing his confidence to contribute to elite sports programs back home.
Although he has never been actively involved in BMX racing, Bos is convinced his extensive experience provides him with the necessary tools to guide the team effectively. "I understand from my experience as both a cyclist and coach what it takes to reach the top, and BMX shares many training overlaps with track cycling," he noted.
Bos's transition to BMX coaching marks a significant step for him. He expressed optimism about the kinship between BMX and track cycling, pointing out how current elite track cyclists, like Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland, have roots in BMX. "The importance of starting well is invaluable, and this knowledge can be translated between the two disciplines," he explained.
The technical director of the Netherlands Cycling Union, Wilbert Broekhuizen, has praised Bos's appointment, noting his wealth of experience which could significantly benefit the growth of the BMX program. He stated, "We are proud to welcome Theo to our coaching staff, where his experience as an athlete and coach will be instrumental in establishing a top-level sports environment where goals can be achieved."
Looking forward, Bos plans to keep the existing training program intact initially, allowing him to identify areas needing improvement. "You will gradually observe shortcomings as a coach, and you need to find solutions for those," he commented, hinting at his inventive approach. His new strategies may diverge slightly from traditional BMX coaching, which could lead to innovative results.
Although not previously engaged with BMX, the mounting experience over his cycling career gives him confidence. He reflected, "I will approach this challenge with fresh ideas from outside the BMX sphere. After our evaluations, we can establish if this is the best way forward as we aim for LA 2028." Bos's successor had to navigate the challenging waters of preparing athletes for multi-sport competition, witnessing mixed results at the recent Olympics. The Dutch BMX team managed to capture only one silver medal, awarded to Manon Veenstra, which raised the stakes for Bos as he embarks on his new adventure.
The appointment follows the broader reorganization within the Dutch cycling structure, as Bos is the second coach-assignment shift within months, with Laurens ten Dam now leading the women’s road cycling team. This shift hints at the Cycling Union's ambitions to revitalize the support structures surrounding its elite athletes across all disciplines.
“The feedback from the BMX athletes has been overwhelmingly positive, which motivated me to accept this role,” Bos concluded. His focus will be on creating unity and strength within the team as they prepare for the upcoming seasons leading to the Olympics, with dreams of standing on the podium. “Together, as one team, there is much to achieve,” he added, echoing his aspirations to lead the athletes to Olympic success.
Bos's impending arrival adds excitement and anticipation as the Dutch BMX team prepares for its first challenges under his guidance. With his coaching strategies and wealth of knowledge, the team remains hopeful for elevated performances and podium finishes at the upcoming Olympics.
