" Now I am in a team that ensures that the conditions are right to perform" - Dutch rider Arvid de Kleijn reveals his journey to the front of the peloton

Tudor Pro Cycling Team rider Arvid de Kleijn has taken an unconventional route to professional cycling, a journey shaped by consistent perseverance. Speaking to In de Leiderstrui, the Dutch sprinter reflected on his career, his challenges, and the progress he’s made within his team.

“There is now a trend of young people who become professionals very quickly and are immediately in training teams. I have never experienced that, I always just missed out on the training teams, which is why I have taken a different path. It was no less beautiful, but it did take longer before I reached a certain level,” said de Kleijn.

Unlike many young riders who quickly join professional development programmes, de Kleijn’s journey required a greater degree of independence. “I won sometimes, but I didn't have the support you need to win multiple races. The sprints I always had to ride were often based on luck. I had to do it alone and although you really try to get yourself in a good position, that is difficult at higher levels,” he explained.

The turning point came in 2022 when Tudor Pro Cycling recognised his talent. “In 2022, I was fortunately noticed by Tudor,” he said. “They saw how I rode my sprints; always alone from the back and then coming with a lot of speed. I don't have to explain that if you come from position 20, you have to make up too much. Then you can be as fast as you want, but you won't make it. Tudor saw how fast I was and the numbers I could pedal, they found that interesting. I signed for 2023 and now we are here.”

Now entering 2025, de Kleijn finds himself with improved support in the form of a stronger sprint team, including Rick Pluimers, Maikel Zijlaard, and Dane Sebastian Kolze Changizi. Reflecting on his earlier struggles, he noted the contrast with his current environment. “The support around me was not there, not in terms of riders and not in terms of staff. I had to figure everything out myself, nobody explained to me how to do something. Now I am in a team that ensures that the conditions are right to perform.”

Though he now has the backing of a cohesive team, de Kleijn’s independent mindset still plays a role in his approach. “I still have a tendency from the past to like to do my own thing. The training schedule is set, the eating schedule is set, but that is done in consultation with me. If I think that something more needs to be done, I say so. In consultation, something can be done, although that was not the case in my first six months with the team. After that, my trainer and I really grew closer, he gained confidence in me and I in him. That collaboration is now very good.”

With the right team support and a collaborative approach to training, de Kleijn looks poised to take further strides in his career, building on the promise he has shown so far.