Henk Vogels is the perfect man to lead a team of professional cyclists trying to make the most of their second chance.
No-one knows more about the cruelty of the sport and the need to never give up.
Vogels is the new team director for Australian squad Drapac, which has earned a promotion to ProContinental status.
The promotion puts Drapac one level below WorldTour teams such as Australia's Orica-GreenEDGE.
Drapac are the first team to earn a wildcard entry to Adelaide's Tour Down Under since the race was elevated to a WorldTour event six years ago.
Many Drapac riders, including former Orica-GreenEDGE members Travis Meyer and Wes Sulzberger, have come to the team after finding themselves in pro cycling's long unemployment queue.
"Guys like Wes and Trav have been the bridesmaids in those other organisations," Vogels said.
"Not that they didn't get a chance where they were, but now they will have a little bit more freedom to choose their race program and target specific events.
"A second chance is a good description."
Vogels was a star Australian pro rider who was nearly killed in a race crash 11 years ago.
He eventually became a team director and had great success with Fly V Australia.
Their management had ambitious plans to become the first top-level Australian team, ahead of GreenEDGE, but the plan spectacularly imploded four years ago.
Vogels joined Drapac late last year and feels he is back where he belongs.
"After the downfall of V-Australia team, I was in the wilderness for a while," he said.
"Seeing the guys do well, I get way more satisfaction out of that than anything I did in my career - and I mean that from the heart.
"We want to breed a really good culture in this team, of riding together and riding as a really good team of mates."
Drapac had a mixed ProContinental debut at last week's Australian road championships.
Jordan Kerby won the under-23 time trial, but six of the team spectacularly crashed on the last lap of the criterium when they were in a perfect position to go for the win.
They rode perfectly in the elite men's road race, with Darren Lapthorne finishing sixth.
But they were also reminded of the challenges they face, with Simon Gerrans, Cadel Evans and Richie Porte filling the podium of an epic race.
Vogels said they will not die wondering during the Tour Down Under.
"Defining success for us is not just winning bike races - it's having excellent team work and really showing who we are and how aggressive we can be," Vogels said.
"We don't expect to win a stage, put it that way, but we are gunning for one."
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