Jumbo-Visma on van Baarle: "It's going to be difficult to bring him into the team"

Jumbo-Visma DS Merijn Zeeman has admitted the Dutch team's intentions to negotiate a contract with recent Paris-Roubaix winner Dylan van Baarle, after the rumours had been made public over the last few weeks.

"I am not allowed to say anything, but it is nonsensical to deny that we are interested in him, he is one of the best Dutch riders. We are an international team, but with a Dutch core. So of course we want to have good Dutch riders, but the most important thing is that he is one of the best classic riders in the world," Zeeman told Wielerflits.

Van Baarle has specialized in the cobbled classics, where he hold wins at Dwars door Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix in his palmarès - adding to runner-up places at last year's Leuven World championships and this year's Tour des Flandres. However, he has been one of INEOS' most reliable domestiques over the years, having raced six Grand Tours where his powerhouse abilities are crucial to keep his leaders safe, but his climbing abilities also allow him to support the team in critical moments.

"He is also one of the best teammates a large team can have. And he's done the Tour de France many times, and won one with Bernal. He is a strong guy," he added. "We would love to have him, but I can't say if it will happen. I think there are a lot of teams that want him. Especially his own team, INEOS. They did a fantastic job with him and we respect that.

Zeeman understands the difficult task at hand, specially as the transfer would on paper take place between rival teams who both want to have the Dutchman as a weapon in their lineup. "He has much more value now. I think all teams with ambitions want a rider like him in their squad. That changes a lot. We will see what will happen. It's going to be difficult to bring him into the team, but we'll see," he concluded.