Discover the ‘Pain Caves’ of Quick-Step’s top riders

Deceuninck-Quick-Step riders are constantly looking for ways to train better, improve and get stronger. At Quick-Step, we completely understand that drive to push boundaries. Quick-Step, long-time sponsor of one of the world’s leading cycling teams, gave the home gyms of riders such as world champion Julian Alaphilippe and Belgian climber Pieter Serry total makeovers to help them train and perform at their very best. The latter’s exclusive ‘pain cave’ boasts calming, yet playful elements, and an ultra-strong Alpha Vinyl floor.

FEEL GOOD, TRAIN BETTER

We all perform better in an environment we feel good in. For cyclists, a well-equipped and beautifully designed home gym is indispensable to making the prospect of a workout more attractive. That’s where our pain caves come in. As an experienced interior brand, we decided to help the Deceuninck-Quick-Step riders by turning their home gyms into stylish environments with all the necessary tools for optimal indoor training.

Julian Alaphilippe: “During the season, I’m often on the road for races all over the world. But in winter, I work out at home three to four times a week to physically prepare for the upcoming season. That’s where a fully designed, comfortable home gym comes in handy. I’d already had a small fitness room in my house, but I always dreamed of a home gym where I truly feel at ease to perform at my very best. I was really impressed when I entered my pain cave for the first time. I immediately felt at home.”

Pieter Serry: “Since Belgian weather is quite changeable, to say the least, I rely on my inside bike trainer throughout the entire year. Besides that, I use my home gym for power training, core stability exercises, squats and so on. In other words: my home gym is definitely one of the most important rooms in my house. That’s why it should be a room where I feel comfortable and prepared to perform.

“No wonder I was super excited when I heard that Quick-Step would turn my home gym into a personalised pain cave. I was confident that their interior experts would come up with something nice, but they really exceeded my expectations. I was overwhelmed when I first saw the result. The design of the room perfectly matches my taste and personality. The big photo of me in competition is a source of inspiration and reminds me that hard work pays off.”

BOLD COLOUR PALETTE

The blue tones in Alaphilippe’s pain cave immediately catch the eye. And they’re there for a reason: blue stimulates optimism and happiness, but also creates a relaxing feeling, which is important when you have an intense training session on your schedule. Blue stands for integrity, power and health – values that all symbolise the French cyclist.

Alaphilippe is a big fan of vibrant autumn hues – hence the Alpha Vinyl floor – and dark colours – think earth tones, chocolate brown – even give the cool blue tones a warm appearance. This combination matches Alaphilippe’s energy and explosive style very well. Colourful gold and marble accents add a playful, luxurious touch to the room.

This remarkable colour palette gives the pain cave both a bold and cosy look and feel. Exactly how you would describe Julian Alaphilippe’s personality – and an environment that reflects who you are and inspires you to perform better.

PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE

Serry’s favourite bike races are those that involve beautiful mountain scenery. That’s why we used cool mint green as the basis of the Belgian cyclist’s pain cave. Green reflects nature and has a calming yet refreshing and uplifting effect. Serry: “That sense of nature helps ease my mind so that I can fully focus on my training and unwind after an intense workout.”

The Belgian climber loves his rest and peace, but never for long. His friends and teammates call him ‘the running joke’. The pain cave’s playful colours and shapes – hence the mountain contours – reflect that witty side of Serry’s personality, resulting in a peaceful atmosphere with a twist. The abundance of light opened up colour blocking opportunities by contrasting the mint green with darker green tones.

The addition of wood-inspired materials – with an Alpha Vinyl floor as the piece de resistance – and earthy, white and black interior elements give the pain cave a warm and natural look and feel. “I simply adore the combination of the sleek design and rustic aspects”, Serry adds.

ALPHA VINYL: STRONG, AUTHENTIC AND SWEAT RESISTANT

Julian Alaphilippe chose Alpha Vinyl Medium Planks as his flooring solution: “Since I often use weights and other equipment during my training sessions, I needed a strong, scratch-proof and impact-resistant floor. Alpha Vinyl is water resistant too, so I don’t have to worry about working up a sweat.

“The warm, natural look and feel of the floor helps me relax after an intense exercise or training session. Thanks to the floor’s realistic structure, combined with the Autumn Oak Honey design, every training session feels like an outdoor ride in the woods.”

Pieter Serry’s pain cave is covered with Alpha Vinyl Medium Planks (Sea breeze oak beige). The realistic vinyl planks are undistinguishable from real wood and offer a warm and soft feeling. Serry: “The pure oak look – without knots and cracks – and natural feel of the floor add to the relaxing atmosphere.

“My floor doesn’t only look good, but it is extremely strong too. I used to be very careful with my weights, squat rack and other training gear. But from now, I don’t have to worry about scratches or other damage. Heavy sweating is no issue either, because Alpha Vinyl is water resistant, which makes it easy to clean. Bring on those rainy training days, I’m covered.”

More info about our Alpha Vinyl collection on quickstep.com. Samples of each of the floors are available for mood boards and stylists.