Written by ProgressTeam at 18:52 11/2-2026
Twenty-nine years ago, when  Aleksander Hetland was at the peak of cycling glory, with three victories in the Lappi Sea GP and six in the Bagno di Bomagna GP already under his belt, Kholadeth Vongsamany was born. He was the son of a devoted fan of Hetland and his successes, so his story could not have unfolded any other way.
By the age of 8, when Hetland was retiring from the professional peloton, young Kholadeth had already been infected with the passion—the very same passion that drove his idol. His room was adorned with posters of the Norwegian champion, and his knowledge of Hetland was encyclopedic. It was then, on the route of the final CoN Sydney, that something happened which shaped his dreams: he managed to grab a team water bottle and secure the coveted autograph on it! It was the moment when the dream of greatness gained a tangible symbol.
Twenty years later, in Season 75 of OCM, Kholadeth stood at the starting line of a race that is a tribute in itself: the Aleksander Hetlands Æresritt.
It was hell on a bicycle. The level of competitors was relentlessly high, a class above the Division 3 and 4 races in which Kholy had mostly competed until now. Added to this was the pressure of excellent results from the start of the season: 5 wins in 9 starts. But nothing could compare to the weight of knowing he was racing on his master's soil, in a race dedicated to his memory. This was not just a competition; it was a personal pilgrimage. However, his debut in this event didn't go as planned, and he finished in 6th place.
Today, one year after that race, Kholy stood at the start once again. The race unfolded through stages of brutal struggle and strategic exhaustion. The ProgressTeam executed a phenomenal job, protecting Kholadeth and guiding him towards the final climb. The last kilometers were a battle against pain, against rivals, and against his own mind.
And it was then, in the deepest moment of crisis, when his strength was failing him, that the team car, carrying his father, pulled up alongside Kholadeth. Szczotek, the team's Sports Director, handed him a bidon, but... it was no ordinary bidon. It was the exact bottle Kholadeth had obtained 21 years ago in Sydney, the one that still bore the autograph of Alexander Hetland, despite the passage of time.
When he saw that signature, he thought, “Greatness is not just a trophy—it is a legacy that must be carried.” In that single moment of crisis, Kholadeth Vongsamany found his last reserves of power and ATTACKED!
What followed will go down in team history. After a fantastic fight, after great work from the entire team, and after finding strength in the legacy of his idol, Kholadeth did it! He crossed the finish line, taking the top step of the podium in the race he had dreamed of since its inception.
At this moment, Kholy and the entire ProgressTeam feel completely fulfilled. This victory is proof that a passion passed from father to son can lead to the greatest triumphs.
The celebration, however, will not last long. Because although this one goal has been achieved, the mission is just beginning. After all—we are now following in Hetland’s footsteps! Ahead of us are the races that could also bear his name: the Lappi Sea GP and the Bagno di Bomagna GP. And the appetite grows with the eating! Bon appétit! :)
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Comments
Congratz on the win! Thanks for the tribute to Hetland, and its great to see a new technical hiller doing well!
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