Jasper Ockeloen is something of an enigma. Businessman and beach racer. Sock fanatic and sprint specialist. Junior road champ, e-bike cross-country champ and European beach race champ. If he’s hard to beat, he’s even harder to pigeon-hole. He has a razor-sharp focus on his goals, whether in business or in racing, and from 2023 his choice of bike brand will elevate his performances to the next level.
This season, whether it’s on road, sand, gravel or dirt, Jasper Ockeloen will be aboard Canyon bicycles.
Ockeloen hails from Dordrecht in the Netherlands and after a junior career at Rabobank Continental road team, the Dutchman turned towards competitive mountain bike racing, picking up several Dutch national championship titles, alongside setting up his fledgling sock business, Sockeloen. Last season he rose to prominence in yet another discipline, topping the podium at Gravel Locos in Hico, Texas.
This season he will continue in that direction with his sights set on making a name for himself in Gravel racing. Aboard Canyon’s gravel fleet, the Grail and the Grizl, he’s targeting several high-profile international Gravel races this season. And if that wasn’t enough, during the winter season he’ll also make use of Canyon’s Exceed bike which, with clearance for wide tyres and long top tube for an aerodynamic position, doubles up both a great XC bike and beach race bike.
“Canyon is a very iconic brand for me, chosen by some of the most exciting athletes in the world. I’m so very proud to be joining their ranks. As an athlete, as an entrepreneur and as a marketeer, I’m committed to giving everything I can towards improving my performances and making the best possible impact for Canyon,” said Jasper.
Matt Leake, Canyon’s Road Brand & Marketing manager, said: “Jasper’s multi-discipline talent makes him a really exciting rider to work with. He’s raced his whole life but has started to make real waves in the Gravel scene the last couple of years, where his huge engine, technical skills and experience really make him stand out. But more than that, his open approach and down-to-earth personality, together with his performances on the bike, will help us shine a light on some of the global events that deserve greater recognition.”
Jasper’s first race aboard Canyon was GP Groot Egmond-Pier-Egmond beach race in the Netherlands on Saturday 7th January where he rode a customised Canyon Exceed with SRAM XPLR groupset, 48T front chainring, Zipp 3ZERO Moto wheels and Schwalbe G-One tyres.
He’ll follow that with the Dutch National Beach Racing Championship at Wijk aan Zee on Sunday 19th February before switching his focus to Gravel, as he targets the UCI Gravel World Series and other gravel events, including Unbound Gravel in Emporia, Kansas.
Header image: Keep your eyes peeled for Jasper at races like Unbound and the UCI Gravel World Series. Credit: Schwalbe / NLSFLM
