"I just have to do my job well in the mountains" - Wilco Kelderman dismisses personal ambitions and focuses on support role for Tour de France

Wilco Kelderman has made the switch to Jumbo-Visma this year, where he has a new set of ambitions which fit into a bigger picture. The team will chase the yellow jersey and the Dutchman has earned a role in this goal.

"You know, in this team they just want to go for the best: if I can't start the Giro in top form then it won't get any better. Then the choice is clear pretty quickly. I wasn't actually going to ride the Tour at all, but when we changed the schedule we just chose to go with the boys to the Sierra Nevada," Kelderman said in an interview with In de Leiderstrui. Bad luck took him out of the Giro, but with teammate Steven Kruijswijk seriously injured at the Criterium du Dauphiné, he's close to assured a spot in the Tour team.

Read also

Tour des Pyrenees organizer doubles down on rider criticism: "I don't think it's worth organizing a race to see all those months of effort ruined for the whims of spoilt children"

"Of course you don't wish that on anyone. Stevie was really on the right track, riding really strong. That is of course very disappointing for him, but for me it also gave me a mixed feeling," he explains. "I'm happy to ride the Tour, after a super good preparation. Then it would suck to be at home with good legs in July, but again: I really don't wish Stevie that he fell out of the Tour selection in that way."

As the first reserve, Kelderman travelled to Tenerife and trained alongside most of what the team's lineup will be. Upon the news of his likely promotion to the team, he's also travelled to the Alps where he joined Wout van Aert in a small camp at 3000 meters of altitude where he further prepared for the race.

Read also

PREVIEW | Tour de Suisse 2023 stage 3 - Evenepoel's first climbing test since Giro d'Italia abandon

"If you can train with such a good group of riders, you notice that everyone is so focused on getting the best out of it. That gives extra morale. Everyone is working towards the same thing, so everyone is also motivated. The mood is therefore always good," he tells. He's now begun the Tour de Suisse where he will fight for a strong place in the overall classification, but the focus then turns into saving his legs and performing in the many mountainous stages the Tour has to offer.

"Keep me up in the standings? That's not the goal at all," he shares, "I think it is clear that Jonas is really out of category. I just have to do my job well in the mountains, that's the most important thing. Collectively coming forward the strongest, that is the goal of Jumbo-Visma."

Read also

Thomas De Gendt will not appear at Tour de France as he still has some concerns about his condition: "It is better for my mental well-being"

Team Visma | Lease a Bike

@vismaleaseabike

·Follow

🇨🇭 #tourdesuisse2023 Ready for the first uphill finish. ⛰️

155

Reply

Copy link

Read 3 replies