Davide Bomboi recalls his first professional podium at Friesland Elfstedenrace: "It was special for me, but of course not for Jasper!"

Davide Bomboi was on fire at the end of 2023. At the Tour of Britain he sprinted to the top ten in the first five stages to finish off the season on a high note with podium finish at Friesland Elfstedenrace. In de Leiderstrui reached out to him to ask about his ambitions for 2024, his debut year at the PRT level with TDT-Unibet.

"I actually want to continue in similar fashion in 2024. I of course hope to do even better, so I am focusing more and more on my sprint. That is my weapon and I want to improve on it. I have also set myself the goal of regularly competing for the top five and even the top three in higher-ranking competitions in the coming year."

Bomboi will be one of the spearheads of Bas Tietema's team and for even better lead-out from his teammates than in 2023. "I think the team has attracted good guys to guide me to the finish. In the past year you already saw that I was supported very well until the last kilometer, but with this team I think I will also have a man with me in that last kilometer. The fact that we didn't have that in 2023 was our weakness in the sprints," he thinks.

The Belgian came close to a breakthrough at the Elfstedenrace, crossing the line behind stars such as Jasper Philipsen and Olav Kooij. The TDT-Unibet rider spoke to the champion after the race. "I remember saying something to him like: 'It's nice on the podium, with all those people here,' but Jasper was not impressed! Of course he has been on stage so many times. He responded nonchalantly with, 'Well, yeah.' It was special for me, but of course not for Jasper!"