"An average of around 100 kilometres a day, uphill and downhill - sounds crazy? Perhaps. But that's exactly the challenge I love."

Behind the Tissue: Ralph Lamerigts, process engineer in paper production

Each year there’s a very special highlight for me: I ride a stage of the Tour de France. It averages around 100 kilometres a day, uphill and downhill – sounds a bit crazy? Perhaps, but it’s just the sort of challenge I love. Since 2010 I’ve been doing this cycle tour every year with three good friends. In 2024 for example we did 113 kilometres over the Col du Soulor and the Col d’Aubisque on the first day, and a further 83 kilometres over the Col du Tourmalet and Col du Aspin on the next day. But for us it’s not just about cycling: it’s a weekend together in France, without the daily grind and without any obligations – just fun, good food and great friends that I don’t see often enough. Traditionally our tour ends with a nice barbecue, a cold beer, and a coffee and limoncello at the end of it all.

For me cycling means freedom and gathering my energy again – it’s my attitude to life. It’s also my way to stay healthy in the long run. I also really enjoy the longer tours in Sardinia, which is where my father-in-law comes from. On holiday while my wife and our daughters go shopping, I explore the island’s tough mountains – so it’s perfect for everyone involved!

My bike’s also my constant companion in everyday life and I do around 8,000 kilometres a year – that’s roughly the distance from Amsterdam to Beijing as the crow flies! My training routine starts every morning going to work which is 16 kilometres each way, but thanks to the showers at WEPA I (still) start the day fresh and motivated. Another plus: we have some internal cycling statistics, which is a kind of competition. All employees can enter into the statistics how many kilometres they bike to work and they can win WEPA bike bags for example. I’m currently at 5th place – so that gives me some extra motivation!

I’ve been part of the team at the WEPA Swalmen mill for 16 years now. My career started there in stock preparation, which is where raw materials such as recovered paper are prepared for production. At first I was trained, and then later on I trained new colleagues myself and eventually became the team leader. I’ve now been working as a process engineer in the paper production department during the day shift for the past five years. The change means less physical movement at work, so it’s all the more important for me to achieve a sporting balance.

I’m still very optimistic despite a current lapse due to an Achilles tendon injury. I’ll certainly be in top shape again by the time of the summer holiday in Italy and the next men’s trip to France in the autumn.

Whether on the way to work or going up a legendary mountain: cycling is my passion. It challenges me and it keeps me fit. The main thing is I keep moving – professionally and in my spare time.

- People at WEPA

Back