interesthings #10 - Leadership lessons in cycling

Bonjour 🥖. It feels like spring had finally arrived. The temperature is rising and the days get longer ⭐️.

Last weeks I’ve been struggling to give this newsletter a good structure. I love writing about cycling but I also want to inspire people. A few people inspired me to combine these passions. So expect more cycling-career advice in the future 😄.

This week I want to dive into this weekends Milan-San Remo race and give you an insight in how pro cycling teams are no different from the projects and teams we run.

Let me know if you like this type of content!

- Mark

Cycling and Leadership: What to learn from Milan-San Remo 2023

This weekend, the first prestigious cycling ‘monument’ of 2023, Milan-San Remo, was ridden. If you're unfamiliar with the term 'cycling monument,' allow me to shed some light. There are five renowned monuments in total: De Ronde van Vlaanderen, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo, and Il Lombardia. These one-day events are among the most esteemed and historic in the cycling world, with some dating back to the late 1800s.

The Milan-San Remo race challenges cyclists with a grueling 298 km journey, all within a single day. While the spotlight often falls on the victorious rider, in this case, Mathieu van der Poel, we rarely discuss the extensive preparations that enable such a win.

These behind-the-scenes efforts can provide valuable insights into teamwork and project management, highlighting how our own endeavours share striking similarities with the intricacies of a professional cycling race. To explain this, we will focus on 3 riders during this Milan-San remo: Mathieu van der Poel, Silvan Dillier and Tim Wellens.

The Product: Mathieu van der Poel 🇳🇱

Throughout the entire 298 km race, the team focuses on a single deliverable - ensuring their star rider, Mathieu van der Poel, crosses the finish line first. Each team member plays a specific role to make this happen, working together like a well-oiled machine. See how Mathieu delivered the final product on the climb of the Poggio:

In your projects the product is the result of 298km of hard work and tactical choices. Hard work and well-thought choices are what makes your project successful.

The Machine: Silvan Dillier 🇨🇭

Covering 298 km at an average speed of 45.9 km/h, as seen in this year's Milan-San Remo, is no small feat. Riders form a peloton, and those at the front are responsible for maintaining a pace that prevents breakaways while also ensuring their teammates can keep up. This is where the 'machine' comes in.

A 'machine' is a rider who consistently pushes hard throughout the race, providing unwavering support to their team. In your projects, 'machines' are dependable individuals who consistently deliver results and go the extra mile. They are often humble and prefer to see others shine.

It's crucial to recognize the 'machines' in your team for their hard work and dedication, as they often carry out the most challenging tasks. They will work the whole 298km for you in order to deliver the final product.

The Catalyser: Tim Wellens 🇧🇪

The 'catalyser' plays a critical role in energizing and motivating the team forward. They often initiate key moves or provide a burst of power when needed, creating opportunities for their teammates to capitalize on. In the Milan-San Remo, Tim Wellens did an amazing lead out on the Poggio climb for Tadej Pogacar. He pushed extremely hard so that Pogacar would break away from the peloton and fight for the win. Watch his performance in this video below:

In a project context, catalysers are those who inspire and drive their team forward, often sparking innovation and pushing for better results. They're essential in maintaining momentum and morale, ensuring the team remains focused and committed to their goals.

In conclusion, the Milan-San Remo cycling race provides valuable insights into teamwork and project management.

The extensive preparations and roles played by each member of a team can make all the difference in achieving success, as demonstrated by the recent race. Mathieu van der Poel, Silvan Dillier, and Tim Wellens each played critical roles in the race, highlighting the importance of having clear roles and a well-coordinated effort.

By recognising the contributions of "machines" and "catalysers" in our own projects, we can build a strong and dedicated team that consistently delivers results and drives innovation.

Things

• Does anyone know how to update a 4000 rule file to PHP 8.0 with GPT-4? If you do, send me a message 😅.

• I need this clean Japanese style interior. Now.

• I really like the Youtube series Jetlag: The Game. It’s an real-life treasure hunt and well put together. They already have multiple seasons in which they do connect-4 with US states or play tag in Europe. Binge-worthy.

• Go thrift-shopping for clothing, it’s cheap and there are some great pieces available.

• Last week the Silicon Valley Bank failed. The bank was the 2nd biggest bank crash in US history. This video by Johnny Harris explains really well how our financial system works and how fear made the Silicon Valley Bank crash.

Gif of the week

Thanks for making it this far! If you like this content, consider subscribing. It would help me tremendously!