There wasn't even time to get underway Return that the news of Wilco's new change of team was already appearing in all the media Kelderman (opening alongside Hindley), who after less than two seasons spent at the Bora Hansgrohe arrives at Jumbo Visma di Roglic e vingegaardFor the 31-year-old Dutchman, this is the seventh change of team and considering the roster of the Dutch team, It could also mean a change in his role, no longer as a striker but as a luxury lieutenant.
At this point, the statements made by Kelderman on the eve of the Vuelta sound almost mocking: «We are a team with 3 captains (besides him, the winner of the Giro Hindley e higuita, ed.), it will be decided in the end who is in charge, who will be better in the third week. As a rule, I have always improved, I know I am good and I feel completely comfortable on the bike., then it will depend on the race."
Top 5 in all Grand Tours
Kelderman's story is somewhat unique. He's raced 13 Grand Tours, and his record isn't even bad: six top-10 finishes, with a third-place finish at the 2020 Giro d'Italia as his best result. He also finished in the top five in the other two races—how many can say the same? Yet his figure is associated with that of an eternal promise that never blossomed.A good finish, yes, but never a real contender for victory. Yet he has all the right qualities, considering his time trial skills and his ability to stamina on any type of climb.
Curiously, that very podium finish at the Giro was a sort of turning point for the Dutchman. In that edition of the Giro, Kelderman was the captain of Sunweb, but witnessed Hindley's exponential growth, who came to play for the race on the last stage with Tao Geoghegan Hart. What happened in Sestriere, however, has always left many perplexed: Kelderman had started in pink, with Hart (Ineos) and Hindley 15" behind. Behind the constant attacks of the rival team, Sunweb decided to back Hindley more, letting Kelderman be detached.
An enemy in the house?
Hindley found himself tied with Geoghegan Hart in the evening, but the final time trial was against him, unlike Kelderman, who in fact would have done better than the British rider the following day. Many whispered that Sunweb reportedly decided to support Hindley knowing of Kelderman's imminent departure., seen almost as an unwelcome guest. However, that episode certainly marked the evolution of the Dutchman's career, and a year later he would find himself in the company of none other than Hindley.
At this year's Giro d'Italia, the performance gap between the two was too great; Kelderman soon had to bow to the team's demands and support his teammate, but at least this time there was no controversy. Now Wilco is once again racing on equal footing with the Australian, but with a passport to another team in his pocket.Will Bora-Hansgrohe handle this differently?
Luxury Lieutenant
It's also true that the Dutchman wants to cash in on the final part of his career as much as possible, perhaps knowing that against today's super talents, he will hardly find a place on the top step of the podium. Jumbo Visma needed a reference figure in support of his big men, Kelderman can fill the role even if it is not exactly suitable for hime. Moreover, there have been many riders in history who, after long attempts to emerge in a major Giro, have found their most suitable position alongside another captain, the latest example being Rafal. Majka with pogacar.
Kelderman, however, doesn't want to give in to this epilogue just yet; he plans to give it one last shot. He prepared meticulously after the Giro d'Italia and the Dauphiné, taking a short break and then three weeks to recharge his batteries in Park City, Utah, with his family. A family of cyclists, considering that His wife, Rebecca Talen, had been a professional until 2014 at Rabobank before dedicating herself to raising her sonHe trained trying to recapture the sensations of his youth, even returning to his teams in the lower categories, WV Eenland and UWTC De Volharding. The boys were over the moon to see him back among them, for Wilco it was a useful recovery of old sensations, approaching a Vuelta with deeper meanings than ever before.
What if it went out with a bang?
«I learned that anything can happen in 3 weeks – he declared to Cycling tips – you have to face every day, every hour, every kilometer without being nervous. You may even lose 15 seconds at the end, but what matters is saving energy and striking when it really mattersEvery great Giro grows and improves you, teaching you something about your body, how to eat, how to drink, how to dress. But you have to know how to listen.
«I have never given up, not even in the face of the worst injuries (he broke his collarbones, vertebrae, fingers, ed.), but if I hadn't had passion, if I had thought it was just a job I wouldn't be here now. I only know that what comes next will be better." This is what those at Jumbo Visma, today adversaries, tomorrow employers, especially hope for.
