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Vatican cyclist spreading the pope’s message at worlds

In this undated photo made available by Athletica Vaticana on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, Dutch-born cyclist Rien Schuurhuis, center, poses with his team in front of St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican. Schuurhuis will race for the Vatican in the Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 road race at the cycling world championships in Wollongong, Australia. It's the first time that the Vatican has entered a team for the event. Chiara Porro, Schuurhuis' wife, is Australia's ambassador to the Holy See. (Ivan Sommonte/Athletica Vaticana)
In this undated photo made available by Athletica Vaticana on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, Dutch-born cyclist Rien Schuurhuis, center, poses with his team in front of St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican. Schuurhuis will race for the Vatican in the Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 road race at the cycling world championships in Wollongong, Australia. It's the first time that the Vatican has entered a team for the event. Chiara Porro, Schuurhuis' wife, is Australia's ambassador to the Holy See. (Ivan Sommonte/Athletica Vaticana) In this undated photo made available by Athletica Vaticana on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, Dutch-born cyclist Rien Schuurhuis, center, poses with his team in front of St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican. Schuurhuis will race for the Vatican in the Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 road race at the cycling world championships in Wollongong, Australia. It's the first time that the Vatican has entered a team for the event. Chiara Porro, Schuurhuis' wife, is Australia's ambassador to the Holy See. (Ivan Sommonte/Athletica Vaticana)

By ANDREW DAMPF / AP Sports Writer 4 min read

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A plain white helmet like the pope’s skullcap.

The Holy See’s crossed keys seal stamped on his white and yellow jersey over his heart.

Dutch-born cyclist Rien Schuurhuis will carry an enormous sense of duty when he races for the Vatican in Sunday’s road race at the cycling world championships in Wollongong, Australia — marking a first in the city-state’s increasing use of sports as an instrument of dialogue, peace and solidarity.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Schuurhuis told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Australia on Friday. “I think the real emotion is still yet to come when I’m standing there at the start line.

“This is a great first step in the direction of what the pope believes in achieving through sports (with) inclusiveness and fraternity,” Schuurhuis added. “Everyone on the sports field — or on the roads in this case — is equal, no matter their backgrounds, religion or age.”