"I didn't expect that in the slightest" - NSN road captain finds himself without contract after years of loyal service
Cycling
At 36 years old, Tom Van Asbroeck is at crossroads. The experienced Belgian was, to his own surprise, not offered a contract renewal at NSN Cycling Team and thus, after eight season with the structure, he has to look for a new team at the brink of his career.
The Belgian joined Israel Cycling Academy back in 2019 after having previously raced at Cannondale (later Education First) and LottoNL-Jumbo. To the young and inexperienced team, Van Asbroeck first become one of its leaders on path to enter WorldTour, before he transitioned to the role of mentor to a new generation of leaders while he still continued to perform at a high level in his favourite Belgian one-day races.
But in 2026, their collaboration comes to an end. "I didn't expect to have to leave in the slightest," Van Asbroeck admitted in an interview with Wielerflits.
Taken for granted
According to Van Asbroeck, there were hardly any signs that the team did not plan to include Van Asbroeck in their future plans. The experienced rider rode his usual programme, was a constant presence at select races, and enjoyed a great deal of respect among both riders and staff.
"I was always paired with the big names and was selected for all the most important races. This year, the signs were all positive, and everyone was satisfied, including the technical staff. At that point, you take it for granted that you're safe. Especially after so many years of faithful service."
Shift in focus
The renewal seemed a given from Van Asbroeck's perspective, but he underestimated one aspect; the change of team structure at the end of 2025 season. Although executive management remained mostly unchanged, the new sponsors altered the team's transfer goals. Suddenly, Van Asbroeck found himself outside the select 30 names for 2027.
"During the last contract negotiations, the possibility of ending my career here was explicitly discussed. 'He can stay as long as he wants,' they said. Perhaps, after those words, I felt a little too comfortable and neglected the negotiations for a new contract a bit. Perhaps it was my naivety: I took it too much for granted, thinking I would never find myself in a situation like that."
For next season, NSN Cycling Team had made several strong signings with climbers Santiago Buitrago and Lennert Van Eetvelt spearheading their transfer window. With that, it's possible the team will look to add more depth to its climbing team - and that's not the natural habitat of Van Asbroeck, who was therefore left out.
"My manager says there was a specific sponsorship opportunity that required the signing of certain riders. I also believe the name and structure changes led to different decisions. They made so many offers to the big teams and perhaps they didn't expect everyone to say yes. I believe that, due to a series of circumstances, there are now a shortage of positions on the roster."
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The transfer market this season is once again overloaded with riders looking the secure their futures at any cost amidst the expected closures at Equipo Kern Pharma, TotalEnergies and Team Flanders - Baloise. NSN therefore found themselves at an unexpectedly strong position which result in some tough decisions.
Unfortunately, that includes letting Van Asbroeck go: "They called to apologize. It's a nice gesture, obviously, but on the other hand, it doesn't solve the situation."
At the moment, there are still - at least virtually - open spots at most WorldTour teams, leaving Van Asbroeck with a careful optimism that a new contract can be found. Even for just one season, because a lot can change (for the good) over 12 months.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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