"If he'd shaved his mustache wrong, they would have disqualified him too" - Jan-Willem van Schip's DS believes there is a 'settling of scores'

The Tour of Holland has thus far seen two time trials with Ethan Hayter winning both and a bunch sprint won by Tim Merlier, two high-level riders who are boosting the race significantly. However the race has equally been linked to the disqualification of Jan-Willem van Schip over the seatpost on his bike, something criticized by Parkhotel Valkenburg manager Paul Tabak who believes there is a hunt on the Dutchman.

"Jan-Willem has been riding for us for three years now. We've always had a lot of discussions with UCI commissaires about his handlebars, but never about his seatpost. We always carry documentation with us and always show it. Based on that, he's always allowed to continue on his race," Tabak told Wielerflits.

"You don't have to explain to Jan-Willem what the UCI rules are and what he has to adhere to. The fact that it looks a little different and that he's a little different from the others only makes it special. I think he's being treated with little respect by the Dutch cycling federation". Tabak is not unfamiliar with the issues that come along with van Schip's bike positions and how the UCI and governing bodies feel about it, however he believes there is a trend of behaviour against the 31-year which is unfair.

Van Schip was removed from the Dutch track program this year, severly limiting his ability to compete on the discipline where he's succeeded the most. "With his exclusion from the track selection. I wonder: why? He's truly a top athlete and a driving force within our team and for other teammates. He's not a clean slate. It does feel like a settling of scores, yes. They're kind of looking for him. I already said it jokingly: if he'd shaved his mustache wrong, they would have disqualified him too."

After not having competed on the road until September too, van Schip essentially missed out on a lot of the season and is looking to compensate it now in the very last few weeks. But his season ends abruptly and prematurely.

"He's disappointed and sad, and rightly so. He's coming out of a very deep valley and has climbed out of it. We've mapped out a path for him towards the Tour of Holland and the track season, and then you get this hassle. Because it's truly bullshit."

"He stood on the podium with his bike on the eve of the race. The officials were already there. Jan-Willem was also there on the day of the time trial, with his bike. Everyone saw that," he argues. "If you tell us before the start, we'll change our minds. This is like putting a stop to the horse after the horse".