BORA - hansgrohe says goodbye to Wilco Kelderman - "We will miss him, but we respect his choice"

BORA - hansgrohe have for the past two seasons had a successful collaboration with Wilco Kelderman, one however that will come to an end this winter as the Dutchman will move back to Jumbo-Visma.

“It was difficult for us when we heard that he was leaving because we have a good relationship with Wilco," team manager Ralph Denk told Wielerflits in a training camp the team is currently having. "I am super grateful to him for what he has done for the team, but I also understand his transfer."

Kelderman had always been known for his crashes and injuries, but in the past few years he had recovered from them and showed his true capabilities. He led BORA at the 2021 Tour de France where he finished fifth, before slotting into a more supportive role in 2022, where he was key to Jai Hindley's Giro d'Italia victory.

“I remember the Turin stage during the Giro. That was a fantastic ride for our team," he recalls, the day that BORA - hansgrohe exploded the field, with Kelderman doing an extensive amount of work to setup an attack. "Not everyone was convinced, but Wilco was the one who convinced young riders like Matteo Fabbro and Giovanni Aleotti to join the plan. He was very important to us and we will try to replace him, but it is a great loss.”

"He is of course a Dutchman and is in the fall of his career. He will go to his old team, where he started as a pro, and I think he will finish his career there as well. We will miss him, but we respect his choice," Denk concluded.