Jumbo-Visma sign young talent Tijmen Graat on long-term deal

Jumbo-Visma Development Team rider Tijmen Graat will turn professional in 2025 with Team Jumbo-Visma. The versatile 20-year-old rider moves up from the team's Development Team and signs a three-year contract until 2027.

This year Graat won a stage and the general classification at the Istrian Spring Trophy in Croatia and the GP Palio del Recioto in Italy. "Tijmen has only been a cyclist for four years", head of development Robbert de Groot says. "When he first appeared on our radar, he was on a bike that was much too big. But we could see right away that he had a lot of potential. Over the past year and a half, we have seen that, in addition to his physical potential, he is also extremely eager to learn and motivated."

Graat will become the ninth homegrown rider to join the Jumbo-Visma WorldTour team since the Jumbo-Visma Development Team was founded in 2020. "In the year and a half I spent in the Development Team, I was able to develop enormously", Graat says. "The U23 period has exceeded my expectations in every way. I hope to finish the next year and a half on a high note."

Graat's racing schedule will systematically expand the following season, and he will already regularly line up with the WorldTour team. "I think it's really cool to join the WorldTour team full-time in 2025. Team Jumbo-Visma is the best World Tour team there is. We have an advantage regarding specialists, nutrition and material, which gives me the confidence that I can develop in the best possible way here."

Sports Director Merijn Zeeman shares this confidence. "The riders in our development team go through an extensive training programme. Tijmen has shown he is among the best riders in the U23 category. He has great potential, is eager to learn and has a good personality. This makes us very happy that he will become a professional with us. Together we will continue on the chosen path. We are confident we can take the next steps together with him."

Tijmen Graat shares at least one similar feat with current World Champion, Remco Evenepoel, which is that they were both football players before switching to two wheels. Graat has already shown that he's excellent uphill and packs a solid TT as well. With these qualities, the future of the Dutch cyclist looks more than bright.