Gravel

Rick Ottema

Rick Ottema is a professional cyclist, trainer and coach. After more than fifteen years of competing at a high level on the road, he will focus entirely on gravel racing from 2027 onwards. Long races, high intensity, adventure and getting the most out of himself and his equipment: these are exactly the elements that make gravel racing so appealing to him.

Infocard

Name: Rick Ottema

Sport: Gravel

Date of Birth: 25-06-1992

Favourite Virtuoos product: Recovery Gold

What are you most proud of?: Winning the Dutch gravel title in 2026 is very special to me. After more than fifteen years of racing at a high level, this was my first individual Dutch championship title. I spent a large part of the race in the lead and was able to pull away solo in the final stages.

Favourite dish: My favorite dish is a homemade hamburger, served with sweet potatoes and an ear of corn.

Follow Rick Ottema on: Instagram

In 2025, Rick made his mark internationally with an eighth-place finish at the UCI Gravel World Championships in South Limburg. In 2026, he reached a special milestone by becoming Dutch Gravel Champion. After spending much of the race at the front, he broke away solo in the final to secure the victory. He also made his mark at the European Gravel Championships, finishing tenth. After more than fifteen years of racing at a high level, winning the Dutch title marked his first individual national championship. It is an achievement he is rightly proud of.

Statistics

40%

Health

15%

Sports nutrition

30%

Performance

35%

Recovery

Alongside his own cycling career, Rick coaches other cyclists, helping them improve their training and performance. He works daily with all the factors that influence performance, from training structure and recovery to nutrition and supplementation. He applies this broad perspective on performance to his own career as well. For Rick, it is not just about results, but above all about continuing to develop and discovering the limits of his potential.

Recovery and training capacity play an important role in this process. With long races and intensive training weeks, Rick aims to recover as quickly as possible after an effort so he can be ready for his next training session. That is why Recovery Gold is his favourite Virtuoos product.

For me, recovery and training capacity are the most important aspects of my cycling career. The faster I recover after a race or event, the sooner I can get back to training properly. That is why Recovery Gold is my favourite Virtuoos product.
Rick Ottema
Gravelrider