"I had several alternatives with a more prominent role" - Mike Teunissen content with decision to leave Jumbo-Visma in search of individual success

After four seasons at Jumbo-Visma, Mike Teunissen has now moved on and will ride in the colours of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty for 2023. Something the Dutchman is more than excited for.

“I had a great time there and the team is racing very well. You also had a very nice group with the boys from spring; it was always a pleasure to go to the race," Teunissen tells In de Leiderstrui. "Of course I would have liked to ride better myself, but unfortunately that was not the case. I still get along very well with everyone there and have always been fully committed to the boys."

With Intermarché-Circus-Wanty the new home for Teunissen, the Dutchman is quick to point out that there's no hard feeling between himself and his former team despite Jumbo-Visma wishing he had stayed. "It's not like I wanted to get out of there either, and they would have loved to keep me too. But sometimes the circumstances are as they are."

A big reason for Teunissen to leave was to search for individual success. "It is true that I want to ride the races that I prefer to ride. If at some point it gets a bit tricky whether I can ride the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, then it's easier to make that switch," he explains. " I also said to guys like Tosh Van Der Sande and Mick van Dijke: I don't feel like fighting with you every week in the spring for a last place in the selection. I dare to face that competition, but in this case I had several alternatives with a more prominent role."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by La Vuelta (@lavuelta)