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Et c’est parti…

 

 

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Back when I was CEO at TrustBuilder, I spent a lot of time in Paris, since that’s where our main shareholder – a French private equity fund – was based. And honestly, you start picking up on how the French talk. One of their go-to phrases is ‘Allez hup, c’est parti.’ You’ll hear it when they’re kicking off a project, but also when they’re just ordering wine or food. It’s like their way of saying, ‘Let’s go!’.  

 

But for me, that phrase will forever be tied to the summer of 2004, when Nadiya, a former track athlete who was topping the charts at the time, dropped her song ‘C’est parti’. During that summer I cycled from Ghent to the south of France for the first time. We covered about 1,000 kilometers to the tune of that up-tempo song. Looking back, we might have pushed ourselves a little too hard, as I ended up with an injury after that first trip. But who knows, maybe my injury had more to do with misjudging distances on Michelin maps, unhealthy food choices, or a lack of preparation. 

 

A different approach 

Because after all, it was fun, so a second ride followed a few years later. Since then, I’ve made the trip regularly with my eldest son. But now we approach it differently: we swapped the old maps for Garmin devices and used their data to pace ourselves during the first few days, so we could really push through later.  

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    On the route, to the south of France.

You know what surprised me the most upon arrival? While that first trip left me both physically and mentally exhausted, every trip since has been the exact opposite: eight hours on the bike, in the right conditions, provides a true mental reset. It was then and there that I became a firm believer in the profound impact data can have on health. 

  

That’s why I’m so passionate about fully immersing myself in innovative projects today, exploring how data can drive health improvements, and working on a large scale to connect physical activity with mental well-being. 

  

There’s already a lot of data out there. But this data is far from complete, as much routine surveillance data is still missing. The good news is, everyone can help bridge this gap, for example, by collecting data through wearables. But health data isn’t the only type of data when it comes to maintaining a positive energy balance. To achieve real results and improve overall well-being, we’ll need to make cross-sectoral connections. Take the workplace, for example – someone’s job can have a big impact on their stress levels, and so can socio-demographic factors. A new parent will have different needs for maintaining a good energy balance compared to a retiree. 

  

To harness the power of data to drive positive change, my team and I are launching a challenge – and what better way to do it than through cycling? 

 

Race the champ! 

That’s how the challenge is called, and the title says it all: we’re challenging citizens – that means you – to go head-to-head with reigning women’s World and European champion Lotte Kopecky. Using data from your smartwatch, you’ll be able to compare your energy output, heart rate, and other health metrics with Lotte’s as a professional athlete. Sounds fun, right? 

 

But there’s more at play. This challenge kicks off a larger movement, where data serves the greater good, shaping the future of well-being and fostering innovation.  

 

Convinced that data can make a difference? Or just curious if you can cycle as fast as Lotte Kopecky? Then join us at Trefdag Digitaal Vlaanderen on October 24th or Proximus Think NXT on November 28th. We’ll have a booth dedicated to the ‘Race the Champ’ challenge.  

Together, we can make strides toward a healthier future! 

 

Allez hup, c’est parti.