"In our worst year ever, he stayed and we started to grow. That was a crucial moment" - Richard Plugge on how Robert Gesink saved his team in 2015

Robert Gesink's career came to a wrap at the Vuelta a Espana. Veteran of eighteen seasons in the professional peloton served as a leader for general classifications as well as one-day races for a large part of his career. And even in the later chapters of his cycling story, he was irreplacable for Visma | Lease a Bike who'll greatly miss their road captain.

Sports director Addy Engels praises his rider in an interview with the Algemeen Dagblad. According to the team manager, Gesink still "destroys half the peloton when he starts dragging himself at the front for a while. His level is still so high. There are no longer any outliers up, but also not down. And you can see him enjoying himself while he keeps delivering."

Gesink is "a foundation on which you build an entire team", according to Engels. "A leader who doesn't talk a lot, but says what needs to be said. A culture guardian too."

In his eighteen-year professional career, Gesink won sixteen times. However Richard Plugge highlights his sixth place at the 2015 Tour de France. "In our worst year ever, he saved the day with that Tour. In the most difficult years, Robert was the man who presented himself as the absolute leader. He clearly said: we have confidence in the team, management. That was a crucial moment. He stayed, we started to grow, Roglic came, Robert went from leader to one of the most important helpers."