"If you are not quite strong enough, it can be nice to support a good leader" - Wilco Kelderman grows accustomed to a teammate role
Cycling
For quite some time, Wilco Kelderman was a leader of his team at the biggest of races. However his transfer to stacked Team Visma | Lease a Bike offered him another perspective on cycling - in a role of domestique with opportunities to focus on smaller objectives.
The Dutch rider started the seasonat the Volta ao Algarve in February, where he assisted to Jonas Vingegaard's overall triumph. How does the experienced rider evaluate season debut on the Portuguese soil? "It went well, although I actually expected a bit more. I had a very good winter. I stayed fit and was able to train well," he tells WielerFlits.
"I felt really good in training, but then you see that a race is something else. The intensity that is there, that is different. So I had hoped for a bit more, but I had a good week. I was able to take a step and that is the most important thing for the other races. I hope to be a step better in the Volta a Catalunya."
In the Spanish race, Kelderman was supposed to ride in support of Jonas Vingegaard, but the Dane crashed in Paris-Nice and was unable to prepare in time for the Catalunya. With what approach does Kelderman actually approach the upcoming races towards the Giro d'Italia? "In the Itzulia Basque Country I do have a free role. There I will see what is possible and what level I can reach."
"I hope to show something nice there. In the Giro I hope to support Olav, Wout and Simon," Kelderman refers to leaders Kooij, Van Aert and Yates. "Who knows, maybe something nice will come out of it for me too, but that's more of a secondary plan."
Where Kelderman used to start a race as a leader himself, there is no longer the pressure of being a leader. Does that take a burden off his shoulders? "I don't mind the pressure, but of course you have to be able to deliver. If you are not quite good enough, it is difficult to keep struggling. Then it is nice to support a good leader, but I do not hesitate to go for a good result myself every now and then."
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