"A top 5 for me is no longer really the goal" - Wilco Kelderman admits days of Grand Tour GC riding are behind him

With Paris-Nice 2024 getting underway today, Wilco Kelderman is expected to be a prominent figure for Team Visma | Lease a Bike during the week. Not in his traditional role of outright leader though, but as a super-domestique/plan-B.

Matteo Jorgenson leads the team's general classification ambitions at the 'Race to the Sun', although Kelderman is hoping to keep himself up there also. “O Gran Camiño was really a preparation race. I wanted to gain some racing strength, because I really want to be good in Paris-Nice. I hope to have a good ranking here," the experienced Dutchman tells Wielerflits. "With Jorgenson, I get the chance to do that. Then it goes back to the Giro.”

At the Giro, Kelderman will be alongside the likes of Wout van Aert, Olav Kooij and Cian Uijtdebroeks, meaning there too, Kelderman's will be working in the service of others. “Cian has a free role in the rankings, but the biggest goal is to win as many stages as possible," he explains. "We have two good leaders for that in Olav Kooij and Wout. I will support Wout, especially in the difficult stages. And if I get an opportunity in big mountain stages, I will take it.”

A former podium finisher at the 2020 Giro d'Italia, Kelderman realises his days of chasing Grand Tour victories are probably behind him. “You know, I don't want to say that I've had that time, but it is… Then I really have to take another step,” he says. “In this team, we know what we want. A top 5 for me is no longer really the goal. I also enjoy going to the Giro with this approach. We have super good leaders and that is very nice to ride for. The team atmosphere is always good and we go through fire for each other.”