Martine Verfailie is the Belgian woman who hosts many Irish riders every year through her connection with the Belgian Project, an initiative set up by Dany Blondeel. The project gives aspiring Irish riders a home away from home and a level of racing they would not otherwise have access to.
By Brian Canty
She might be known as the Belgian photographer with the spiky hair to some, but to a growing number of Irish riders she’s the mother away from home.
Martine Verfaille from the cycling heartland of Moorslede near Leper, has been housing Irish riders for the last two years, cleaning their kit, cooking their meals, transporting them to races, putting up with their foul moods and sending them home with plenty fond memories.
For the latter, she takes her trusty camera with her everywhere and documents the lives of those riders she hosts.
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She has two kids of her own and a full-time job, so her hands are full already, but her passion for cycling is so great that she wants to be closer to the riders.
This passion brought her in contact with Belgian native and Irish-based Dany Blondeel who founded the Belgian Project seven years ago.
And it’s through him that gets to host riders on short and longer term stays.
“Most of Irish riders are very grateful to have the opportunity to race in Belgium.
“They are very polite, have a good sense of humour and they can combine a love for the bike with having fun very well.
“Mainly, they want to learn about cycling and that’s why they come to Belgium,” she says.
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Martine Verfailie is never too far away from the action, be it road or off-road. Her love of cycling started when she was just nine years of age and be it mid-summer on the road or mid-winter in the mud she is always there to capture the action. Above, making sure the Irish juniors are all set in Belgium this year.
As to why she brings such pressure on herself she shrugs; “The riders keep me young and help me learn to speak proper English!
“When my own children were out of the house I had their rooms free and I thought it was a nice idea to use these rooms.
“So I think of the riders as my own children; I bring them to the races, do their laundry and try to cook healthy.
“I also try to photograph them as much as possible so their family at home also can follow them a little closer.”
Her passion for cycling started when she was nine years old.
“My neighbour was a cyclist and my father was chairman of his local club. Naturally, I always went with him to the competitions and my love for the sport has stayed with me all these years.” (Her father is an uncle to Lotto-Soudal rider Jens Debusschere).
What gives her the greatest pleasure is seeing one of “her own” do well.
“It makes me happy when I see the riders makes progress.
“This year I had a winner for the first time in Jake Gray so it's nice to have flowers at home from his win.
“Next season Marc Heaney stays the entire season so I expect even more flowers,” she says, jokingly.
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