“The Pope’s cyclist”: the Vatican will make history with a participant in the World Cycling Championships

The Cycling World Championships, which will be played in Wallongong, Australia starting this Sunday, will go down in sports history. Because for the first time, among the participants in a competition of this level there will be a representative of the Vatican CITY. will be Dutch Rien John Schuurhuiswho at 40 will become the first athlete to run for the team Vatican Athletics in an official tournament International Cycling Union.

Schuurhuis, nicknamed “The Pope’s Cyclist”it will be presented in the road test, on the first day of competition, with the aim of “representing the values ​​of fraternity and the inclusion of cycling”, as confirmed by the sports body of the Holy See.

The presence of Schuurhuis means the absolute debut of the official Vatican team in the world sporting movement.

Vatican Athletics was born in September 2017 and in its early years was made up of employees of the Holy See and citizens of that city-state. In January 2019, was born as the first official sports association of the Vaticanwith athletics as a central sport.

In September 2021, as part of its 190th Congress in Leuven (Belgium), the International Cycling Union approved the incorporation of the Vatican team as its 200th member.

At that time, the same Pope francesco assured that cycling “highlights some virtues such as resistance to fatigue – in long and difficult climbs -, courage – in the attempt to escape or in sprinting -, integrity in compliance with the rules, altruism and a sense of work team”.

“During the races the whole team works together and when a teammate goes through a difficult moment, it is his teammates who support and accompany him”added the Supreme Pontiff.

The UCI was the first international association to recognize Vatican Athletics as an official body and opens the doors to participation in its international competitions, a debut that will take place in a few days on the Australian routes.

“We are gradually building our cycling community,” he said. Emiliano Morbidellidirector of the Vatican team, after the confirmation of Schuurhuis participation in the World Cup.

The Dutchman, born in 1982 in Groningen, in the north of the Netherlands, said that cycling has always been part of his life. “It was part of our daily life. We went to work, school, shop and church by bicycle. My first money was spent on bicycles. I don’t know exactly when the love for cycling as a sport was born, but I think that it has always been there in my heart, “he told the Italpress agency.

The pilot began his professional career in 2016, as part of the Australian team Oliver’s real food, continental license. He then also competed for the Black Inc cycling team, from Laos. And then he made a second leg in his first lineup, which he returned to in 2017.

In those years, racing in Asia and Oceania, his best results were a fifth place in the general classification of the Great tour of the south coast of 2017, a second place in the Tahiti tour in 2018, two victories in stages 2 and 4 of the same race in 2019 and a third place in the New Caledonia tour 2019.

Since last year he has been one of the 10 members of the Vatican cycling team, with whom he will make history this Sunday.

“Since I arrived in Rome, I have been immediately drawn to the values ​​and community spirit of Vatican Athletics. The language of sport is truly universal. Representing that team at the UCI Road World Championships in Australia will be an honor. Incredible for me,” he said. said Schuurhuis, who is married to Chiara PorroAmbassador of Australia to the Holy See.

“It was a great joint effort to get to this point and I hope to bring this team spirit into the competition. Sport has the power to push each of us to give our best, combining generosity, sacrifice and humility.” insured.