The fastest socks in the world: A new chapter for Dutch cycling

It all started early in Ockeloen’s career. He rode for two years with the Rabobank development team. “When I was a junior, I already noticed that there were hardly any good, high-quality socks with a proper fit available,” he explains. “There was one seller back then—an Italian who sold socks out of the trunk of his car once or twice a year. You’d have to make do with those for the whole season. I saw a gap in the market, so I bought up his entire stock and started reselling the socks on Facebook.”

That’s how the ball got rolling. What started as small-scale reselling quickly turned into a larger operation under the name Sockeloen. Now, about fifteen years later, the deal with the Dutch Cycling Federation is the crowning achievement of his work. “We’re super happy and very proud of this. It’s always a challenge for us to sponsor athletes at the highest level because we’re competing against big clothing brands. They have bigger budgets, higher turnover, and often push us out in negotiations since we only make socks. But with the Dutch Cycling Federation, we found a great deal.” Kalas will supply the rest of the kit for the Dutch riders, so Sockeloen will collaborate closely with the clothing manufacturer.

Why did the cycling federation choose Sockeloen? It would have been easier to pick a clothing brand that provides all products, but Ockeloen explains the decision. “The Dutch Cycling Federation was looking for products that the athletes themselves stand behind. I’m a professional cyclist myself, and we have a lot of top athletes working in our company. So, we know exactly how to make the best product.” For example, Sockeloen produces The Fastest Sock on the Planet, a sock tested as the most aerodynamic on the market. The focus on performance, combined with the connection with athletes, impressed the Dutch cycling federation so much that the two parties teamed up.

The 34-year-old Jasper Ockeloen is, as he mentioned earlier, a professional cyclist. As a gravel racer, he’s part of the I, alongside riders like Laurens ten Dam and Thijs Zonneveld. However, this past year didn’t go as smoothly. “During the season, I noticed a difference in muscle fatigue between my left leg and my right leg. It just kept getting worse.” In September, Ockeloen broke his elbow, which brought his season to an immediate end—though it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. “Because of the elbow injury, I got in touch with Jelle Posthuma (team doctor at KNWU, ed.), and I thought, ‘Let me finally bring this up,’” referring to the uncomfortable sensation in his legs.

“We then did three tests: a vascular examination, an MRI, and a pressure measurement test. All three showed that I had a significant problem in my left leg.” The diagnosis: a compressed iliac artery. Fortunately, Ockeloen was able to undergo surgery quickly, and now the focus is on recovery. “I have a six-week recovery plan: three weeks of no sports, followed by three weeks of gradually rebuilding. By then, it should be fully load-bearing, but the question is when I’ll be fit enough to compete again.”

During his recovery, Jasper Ockeloen received support from his wife, Riejanne Markus, who flew back from her training camp to pick him up from the hospital. “We’re super committed to each other,” he says about their relationship. “For example, I helped Riejanne with negotiations with teams and with deciding which team to join. I also try to support her in terms of performance, and she does the same for me.”

The 30-year-old Markus left Visma | Lease a Bike after four years. “She had been with Visma for a long time, and it felt very familiar. Riejanne is also a very loyal person. She wanted to explore whether she could stay, but she also wanted to look at other options to see if she could find new challenges.” After weighing all the possibilities, Lidl-Trek was chosen as her next adventure. “In the end, Trek was simply the best option. Not just in terms of performance, but also tactically. Riejanne really likes that they have multiple team leaders and a broad, strong roster.”

The fact that she can share leadership at the American team is a positive. “She doesn’t necessarily have to be the sole team leader. She wants to take advantage of the team’s depth to win races. Riejanne is very strong, but she doesn’t have the finishing kick of someone like Marianne Vos or Lotte Kopecky. For her, it’s ideal to come into the final with a strong selection of teammates and use that to go on the attack. And Riejanne doesn’t mind sacrificing herself for the team now and then.”