Rien Schuurhuis
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | The Pope's Cyclist[1] |
| Born | 12 August 1982 Groningen, Netherlands |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Vatican Cycling |
| Discipline | Road cycling |
| Role | Rider |
| Rider type | Sprinter |
| Amateur team | |
| 2021– | Vatican Cycling |
| Professional teams | |
| 2015–2016 | Oliver's Real Food Racing |
| 2016 | Blank Inc Cycling Team |
| 2017–2018 | Oliver's Real Food Racing |
Rien John Schuurhuis (born 12 August 1982) is a Dutch-born Vatican road cyclist and industrial design engineer who competed for the Vatican City in the 2022 and 2023 UCI Road World Championships. He was the first cyclist and athlete who represented the Vatican City as a regular scoring competitor.[2]
Career[edit]
Schuurhuis started competing internationally for teams such as Oliver's Real Food Racing and Blank Inc Cycling Team under a Dutch sporting nationality.
In 2020 when he moved to Rome, he was "immediately drawn to the values and community spirit of Athletica Vaticana," and in 2021 he started competing for the Vatican City.[3]
Major results[edit]
- 2015
- N/A Tour de Perth
- 18th Melbourne-Warrnambool
- 33th Tour of Southland
- 2016
- 45th New Zealand Cycle Classic
- 65th Tour de Ijen
- 75th Tour de Flores
- DNF Road race, Dutch National Road Race Championships
- N/A Tour of the Great South Coast
- N/A Tour of Gippsland
- 46th Jelajah Malaysia
- 2017
- 5th Tour of the Great South Coast
- N/A Tour of the King Valley
- 2018
- DNF Herald Sun Tour
- DNF Road race, Dutch National Road Race Championships
- N/A Tour Tahiti Nui
- 2nd Stage 1
- N/A Tour of New Caledonia
- 2019
- N/A Tour Tahiti Nui
1st Stage 2 and Stage 4
- 22nd Tour of New Caledonia
- 3rd Stage 6
- 2021
- 40th Time trial, Dutch National Road Race Championships
- 2022
- 11th Limburg Cycling Time Trial
- DNF Road race, World Championships
- 2023
- DNF Road race, World Championships
Personal life[edit]
Schuurhuis was introduced to cycling at a young age saying he "could ride a bike before I could walk," due to the Cycling culture of the Netherlands.[2]
Schuurhuis holds Dutch citizenship due to his birth, Australian citizenship as his wife Chiara Porro is Australian, and Vatican citizenship since he resides there and as his wife is the Australian Ambassador to the Holy See.[2][4] He moved to Rome in 2020.[3] He has two children, Thomas and George.[5]
References[edit]
- ^ Ortega, Adrián (19 September 2022). "Who is Rien Schuurhuis, the "Pope's cyclist?"". Diario AS. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Vatican rider to make history at world road cycling championships". NBC Sports. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ a b "A 40-Year-Old Representing Vatican City At The World Championship – This Is Rien Schuurhuis' Story". Cycling Up To Date. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Trapani, Andrea (21 September 2022). "Come pedala il Vaticano ai Mondiali di ciclismo" (in Italian). Il Foglio. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Kenny, Michael (20 September 2020). "New Ambassador speaks on her hopes for the role". The Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
External links[edit]
- Rien Schuurhuis at Eurosport
- Rien Schuurhuis at World Cycling Stats
- Rien Schuurhuis at Pro Cycling Stats
- Rien Schuurhuis at First Cycling
- Rien Schuurhuis at Sito del Ciclismo