Name: Serge Pauwels Nationality: BEL Date/place of birth: 21 November 1983, Lier (B) Family: parents Dirk Pauwels and Elisabeth Croegaert, two brothers: Dimitri en Anthony Height: 1m78 Weight: 65kg Residence: Edegem (B) Studies: Economics (Toegepast Economische Wetenschappen) at the University of Antwerp
Started cycling: at the age of 14
Cycling heroes at that time: Frank Vandenbroucke, Miguel Indurain, Marco Pantani
Pro since: 2006
Pro teams: Topsport Vlaanderen (2008), Chocolade Jacques-Topsport Vlaanderen
(2006-2007)
Favourite race to ride: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Favourite race to watch: Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix
Favourite race experience: Tour Down Under 2007. As winner of the mountain competition I was on the podium in front of a huge crowd.
Favourite cycling moment: The clash between Pantani and Armstrong on the Mont Ventoux in the Tour de France 2000.
Combining professional cycling with studies at the University of Antwerp surely can’t be easy. Do you have any time left to enjoy student life? I don’t have the feeling that I’ve missed something. And of course, the first years at university I didn’t go professional yet.
Do you think you want to stay in cycling after your active career? Difficult to say. Let’s give it a 50/50 percent chance.
Biggest performance yet: 4th place in the Tour de l’Avenir
Top speed: I once saw 3 numbers in a descent, about 102 km/h
What’s the most fun of being a professional cyclist? 1) Being your own boss when you’re at home and 2) you get to see the whole world
And what is the downside? A race isn’t postponed because of rain, as it is in for instance tennis
Do you have any cycling rituals? I make a cross before every race Where do you train when you’re in Belgium? I usually go direction Mechelen, Leuven, Overijse,…
Favorites: Favourite holiday destination: Australia Favourite tv show: De Laatste Show Favourite book: The Rider (De Renner) by Tim Krabbé Favourite film: Casino Royale Favourite website: www.sporza.be Favourite actor/actress: Daniel Craig Favourite food: pasta with scampi Favourite restaurant: Ulcke van Zürich in Antwerp Favourite night out: outside in the sun, on the terras of a restaurant Favourite drink: champagne…?
