"I worked with both Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert" - Timo Kielich set to race classics with van Aert and Giro with Vingegaard on Visma debut season

Timo Kielich was one of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's signings into 2026, and is a rider that will take on a lot of responsibility next spring. The cyclocross specialist is now putting his full focus on the road, where he will join Wout van Aert in the cobbled classics and Jonas Vingegaard at the Giro d'Italia over the next few months.

“My favorite races are the spring classics, especially Paris–Roubaix," Kielich admitted in a press release shared by Visma. "I love the history of the races, and I remember watching Johan Museeuw and Tom Boonen ride them when I was young. They suit me quite well too, as I’m neither a pure sprinter nor a climber, but I can do a bit of both and I can use my technical skills in this type of race. If I could choose just one race to win, it would be Roubaix".

The 26-year old is a quality signing and a strategic one at that too, showing great performances and a few victories in off-road and cobbled classics over the past few years, but also taking away talent from the block of Mathieu van der Poel into the spring classics. He enters a new environment for the first time in his career after spending many years with Alpecin - Premier Tech, alongside other men who also mixed cyclocross with the road.

“Everyone here is very focused on ‘Blanco Koers.’ The culture is everything," he admits as feedback from his first few weeks with the team. "That makes it a very nice and safe environment to be in, because everything is clear. We know what to expect from each other, and that feels really good.”

Kielich is set to race the cobbled classics soon and be part of a Visma that will be missing the departing Tiesj Benoot and Dylan van Baarle; as well as Matteo Jorgenson in the cobbles. Hence, the Belgian's importance will be greater. And he is already sharing time with Wout van Aert with whom he will be racing with.

“Wout and I started doing a few training rides together when I signed with the team. He’s just a normal guy, and we get along well. When I finish my career one day, it will be quite special to say that I worked with both Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.”

Alongside that, CyclingUpToDate can confirm Kielich will be racing the Giro d'Italia, an interesting choice for Visma in a lineup that will be focused on the pink jersey with Jonas Vingegaard.