Laurens ten Dam, born in Bedum in the Dutch province of Groningen, was never a rider of numbers or statistics, but of character. He didn’t race to win, but to fight — every stage, every climb, every kilometer. From his professional debut in 2003 to his farewell in 2019, he symbolized what cycling is also about: suffering, getting back up, and pushing on.
His career highlight came in the 2014 Tour de France. Dressed in Belkin’s green kit, with dust on his face and sweat in his beard, he battled his way to a heroic ninth place in the general classification. But his path was never paved with glory. Crashes, injuries, and thankless work in the shadows colored his career. Still, he kept riding. Not for the trophies, but for the love of the sport. For the battle against the elements — and against himself.
Gravel Adventurer
After his WorldTour career, he found a new calling on the gravel scene. On rugged trails, far from the spotlight, he rediscovered the purity of cycling. Through his podcast Live Slow Ride Fast, he continued to inspire — as a rider, adventurer, and storyteller.
He created new stories on gravel. In the grueling Unbound Gravel XL, he faced 560 kilometers through the heat of Kansas. After 19 relentless hours, he finished fourth, battling emptiness, sleep, and himself.
He also won the Race around The Netherlands in his home country: 1,900 kilometers non-stop, self-supported. No support car, no rest — just wind, rain, and willpower. A race against the clock and against the mind.
But his toughest challenge was the Tour Divide, a self-supported gravel race of 4,400 kilometers from Canada to Mexico. He finished third there.
PPEEQQ for Every Challenge
When Laurens swapped his road bike for a gravel bike, he also chose the high-end and sustainable eyewear brand PPEEQQ. And wherever he rides, his PPEEQQ is there for every adventure.
Whether he starts in the dark, faces extreme weather in Scotland, or drives under the blazing sun in America — PPEEQQ is ready for any weather and every challenge.
