"It is also possible that I won’t be able to find a team at all" - Taco van der Hoorn contemplates 2027 switch to gravel

After ten seasons at a professional level, Taco van der Hoorn finds himself at crossroads. The 32-year-old Dutchman finds himself without a contract for next year. His best shot might be, as he himself admits, to renew at Lotto-Intermarché where two spots are still available, but even that option remain more of a possibility than a specific offer.

Between the 2021-2022 seasons, Van der Hoorn amazed the cycling world with his stunning breakaways. His efforts were rewarded with a stage victory at the 2021 Giro d'Italia. But in 2023, Van der Hoorn's career went sideways.

A hard crash at the Tour of Flanders left the Dutch rider with a severe concussion which required a 16-month racing break to heal to enough to let Van der Hoorn back into action. Just two months later, he won Betcity Elfstedenrace (1.1). But has not raised his arms in celebration since.

And as Van der Hoorn's presence in races grew more scarce over past months - partly due to many health setbacks - so have diminished the interest of teams to sign the experienced rider. "At the moment, I actually have no idea what I’m going to do next year," Van der Hoorn tells WielerFlits.

"There is still a possibility that I will stay with my current team, but it is also possible that I will have to leave. There is also contact with other teams, but that is far from concrete at the moment. So it could go in any direction. It is quite possible that I will still be riding in the WorldTour next year, but it is also possible that I won’t be able to find a team at all."

"I think it’s really fifty-fifty," the Dutchman weighs his chances. "It could just turn out the right way, but it could also just not."

What makes things particularly complicated for Van der Hoorn is the overload of transfer market due to two teams (Equipo Kern Pharma and Flanders Baloise) coming to a close, while the future of TotalEnergies is not very promising. "If you look at the transfer lists, you see that there are still a lot of good riders available on the market for many teams. That makes it difficult. You don’t have it entirely in your own hands."

In order to secure a contract, Van der Hoorn declares that he's ready to take on any role within his (new) team. Including the unpopular "wind-breaker" role of a rider who spends the entire day sitting at the front of the pack, keeping breakaway at bay. "I would absolutely love to do that. I have also indicated that to my current team. I actually think I could be very good at that. Something like what Silvan Dillier does for Mathieu van der Poel, for instance."

"After ten years as a pro, I know very well by now what I can and cannot do," Van der Hoorn continues. "I am limited uphill, but on the flat I think I am really very strong. I would be very well suited to ride at the front for a sprinter all day. Attacking remains an option, of course, but I am open to everything. I would just really like to keep cycling in the professional peloton for a few more years. I realize very well that I don’t have the luxury of being able to choose."

Besides his studies at psychology, Van der Hoorn was already forced to think about a back-up plan. In its center is gravel - the discipline which has grown rather popular among recently-retired professionals.

"Suppose it doesn't work out to stay in the WorldTour or as a pro on the road at all, then I could also take up gravel. There are no concrete plans for that yet, but it is something I aspire to. I just really still enjoy cycling and have a competitive mindset."

But Van der Hoorn's priority remains to secure a contract as a professional cycling on road, rather than becoming for instance a staff member. "I hope I can still share that experience with others as a rider. That is what I aspire to much more at this moment than a role as a coach," he emphasizes.

"I really want to keep racing. If it ultimately doesn't work out, then so be it. Then certain things apparently didn't go well enough, or the coin didn't fall my way. But for now, I still hope that I can continue my career as a professional cyclist. I am open to any adventure that comes my way."