"I did recover just in time for the Giro" - One of Jonas Vingegaard's Visma's domestiques crashed leading up to the race

In a race of 21 days, with the responsibility to control the peloton and with the main favourite on board, it is always important to have all eight riders at their best level. Team Visma | Lease a Bike won't have that privilege going into the Giro d'Italia as Wilco Kelderman revealed that he crashed recently during a training ride.

The Dutchman, who was an important support rider for Jonas Vingegaard during his last Vuelta a España where the team took the overall win, had a fall whilst at an altitude camp leading up to the race. “I had a bad fall during one of the last days of the altitude training camp, so that final week wasn't optimal," Kelderman shared with In de Leiderstrui. "Ultimately, I did recover just in time for the Giro".

"What happened? I just slid out in what looked like a simple corner. Nothing special, really. My trainer was riding behind me and he didn't know exactly what happened either, but it just sucks that something like that happens to you during training.”

The team has managed to come into the race with their pre-schedules block, something that surpasses other rival teams. UAE Team Emirates - XRG are starting without João Almeida who was anticipated to be Vingegaard's biggest rival; whilst Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe has also seen Danny van Poppel removed from the lineup last-minute.

In Visma's case Kelderman did stay on the '8', as on the bike he does not feel the effects as much. "A fall is never pleasant, but that is mainly because it remains uncomfortable for a long time and you never really feel good. But on the bike I don't notice it much, and that is the most important thing.

But it's not been the ideal spring by any chance for the veteran, who also skipped the Volta a Catalunya previously: "Normally I would also ride the Volta a Catalunya, but I didn't end up doing it. I was feeling a bit unwell, not entirely fit, so we decided to skip it and just work towards the Giro".

At this point in his career, the former Giro podium finisher is on a pure domestique role in the three-week races, something which he has adapted to very well however. He is somewhat of a key figure when it comes down to passing along the Grand Tour experience to his teammates, taking into consideration he's starting his 20th.

"We do have a plan for each day. With Tim Rex and Timo Kielich, we have two men for the flats I, Victor Campenaerts, and Bart Lemmen are somewhat in the same caliber as men who can keep up longer uphill and can also do their job on the flats," he explains.

But if he has good legs, his work is also expected to be very useful in the mountains of the Corsa Rosa - although the main responsibility is not on his shoulders. "Davide Piganzoli and Sepp Kuss have to keep up for a long time uphill and do the lead-out for Jonas," he concluded.