The perfect combination of working and cycling

Tero Alapoikela works as a Team Leader at VEO’s Automation unit. Besides his career, he has another passion – enduro cycling.

Alapoikela has noticed a connection between his career and enduro cycling. The same principles apply to both: development requires a lot of effort but at the same time it’s extremely rewarding. “New challenges might feel difficult at first. Sometimes you may fall, especially with an enduro bike. However, I have learnt to spot my mistakes and now I use them to learn and develop my skills.”

Enduro cycling – an inspiring hobby

“I started enduro cycling in 2015 and noticed immediately that I can forget everything else when I cycle in the forest. Riding over roots and small stones requires focus so it’s impossible to think anything else. In the early days, I only cycled along small trails in the forest, but I soon realised that riding downhill and cycling at a high speed is much more fun. In 2016, I tried downhill mountain biking for the first time and in 2018 I took part in my first MTB enduro competition.”

Alapoikela mentions that the excitement is the best part of enduro cycling: “This sport offers an opportunity to excel oneself which may feel a little scary at first.”

Leading a team of talented experts

Alapoikela’s career at VEO spans more than 14 years. He leads a team of eight automation system engineers, but he also participates in project work. His tasks are versatile, but the typical workday usually includes meetings, planning and the usual responsibilities that come with managing a team.

What Alapoikela values the most at VEO, is the expertise and helpfulness of his colleagues: “There are so many experienced professionals from different fields working at VEO. If you are willing to ask for help, everyone is more than happy to support and share their knowledge. That’s one of the greatest things here. I have always tried to act the same way both as an employee and as a team leader.”