DAVID COOLS FROM MOTORCROSSER TO MOUNTAIN BIKER
Born with two wheels in his stomach
David Cools’ story is one of many falls, getting back up and trying to become competitive again. But it is also the story of an avid motocross rider who was forced to develop a love for cycling and eventually fell head over heels in love with mountain biking.
David started competitive motocross when he was five years old and for the next 33 years he was consumed by the competition as a motocross rider. He even became Belgian Champion in the Inters class six times. Yet David was never able to realize his dream of becoming a professional. The many serious injuries he suffered took their toll, preventing him from getting the most out of his career. The last injury he suffered during his motocross career, seven years ago, put an end to his motocross story. The accident resulted in a very serious fracture of the femur and hip, causing Cools to almost lose his leg. Game over, resulting in a difficult physical and mental rehabilitation. It immediately prompted a new sports career on two wheels, but this time on a mountain bike.
Cools started riding mountain bike competitions in the D-series and after two years of sampling the competition, he moved up to the A-series. Gradually, he sought out ever greater challenges in higher-level competitions. This is how he ended up in the Flanders Cup, where he is now giving his best in the Masters 2 series (45–54 years) and became the overall winner in 2024.
David, tell us how you went from motorbike to mountain bike…
“Well, after I realized that my motocross career was really over, I needed a new challenge and Dr. Toon Claes, who operated on me, gave me that challenge. My crash happened in May 2017 and Toon Claes gave me a year to be at the start of La Cannibale (Mont Ventoux) in June 2018. I made it and finished the ride! In retrospect, this may have been a bit extreme as a first goal, but I needed those extremes – and certainly did at the time.
After that I continued to ride a racing bike for a while, but it didn’t give me enough satisfaction. That’s why I started picking up mountain biking again, which I used to do a lot as physical training. At first, I had no desire to compete in races, but after a local fun race, I was bitten by the competition bug again and since then I have participated in MTB races almost every week.”
So it was like a spark that reignited the engine at that local race?
“Yes, until recently there was always a series for people from Vorselaar during the cyclocross competition that Geert Wellens organized here in Vorselaar. That’s where I got the taste for it and the spark was ignited. Starting back, competing man to man, suffering and arriving completely exhausted, I had missed that badly…
It may sound strange, but that’s when my true love for cycling began.”
You come from the motorbike world, are both worlds comparable?
“No, they are different worlds. In the motocross world, people cycle a lot as training, but otherwise there is little comparable. Or one thing, you have to train really hard for both sports!”
What drives you so hard to race?
“I just need that competition. I have done nothing but ride in competitions since I was a child. I am already looking forward to March when the season starts again.”
How have your results evolved over the past years?
“The first seasons were really tough. I started out like in cyclocross, all or nothing, and there was a lot of NOTHING. I also had to learn everything and I trained without any knowhow. Sometimes I lacked speed, then power or explosiveness. It drove me crazy.
But that changed because with the help of Luc Van den Broeck of Concap and sports doctor Sam Vermeire, I got better and better year after year. Last season in 2024, after five years of growing, I was finally able to ride a very good and strong season without any dip or relapse.
This year I won competitions in the Wallonia Cup and the Luxembourg Cup, I was on the podium in the 3-nation competitions, I was the overall winner of the Flanders Cup and what I am most proud of is that I came third in the Belgian Championship marathon in La Roche.”
What are your ambitions for 2025?
“That I can have another year like this one. I have been good all year and everywhere I competed I was in the running for the podium. If I can equal that or maybe do even better, then 2025 will have been a success.”
What do your training sessions look like, how many hours a week?
“I work out every day: cycling, mountain biking, strength training and core stability, they all get a go. In the winter I put the bike to one side a bit more and the focus is more on strength and stability. During the season it’s more cycling, but I never skip the stability training. My body has suffered a lot during my MX career, so keeping all the muscles strong is a real must!”
In the winter period I train about 15 hours a week. Of course, that also depends a bit on the weather. During the season it is usually a little less, unless I have to train for a specific goal. But on average I train at least another 10 to 15 hours a week including competitions.
Do you also pay attention to your diet?
“I have always paid attention to my diet, but since this year I have been under the nutritional guidance of Natacha Van den Broeck from Proti Balance/Concap. And that really made a big difference! She has ensured that I have been on top form for a whole year, without going hungry and that there has been no muscle breakdown, but even muscle building. If you want nutritional guidance to improve your performance, she is the one to see!“
Do you also take supplements?
”Yes, for the supplements I am under the constant guidance of Luc Van den Broeck, who adjusts my Concap products where necessary. Every year I have my blood values checked several times by my doctor. Luc then advises me on the right supplements to take to perform at my best. During the season, I even visit Luc on a weekly basis during certain periods, and we discuss which competitions are on the program and adjust the supplements accordingly.”
Do the Concap products really help you that much? And how do you feel that?
“They help enormously. Without the Concap products I would never have been able to compete at this level in mountain biking. They give me strength, energy and better recuperation and I hardly ever get sick anymore. My level really went up considerably in a short time since I started using the products.”
What kind of work do you do?
“My main job is postman, but I also work as a freelance motocross coach and personal trainer.”
How long do you plan to continue competing?
“As long as I can physically handle it. I think they will have to bury me and my bike together one day…” (David laughs heartily)
Is non-competitive cycling not an option for you?
“No, certainly not at the moment. But I will get there one day, won’t I? However, I would like to put that off for a very long time by taking good care of myself and continuing to train hard.”
Good for you! We wish you many more years of success on the mountain bike, David!
Text: Patrick Van Gansen
