"My career will not be a failure if I never go to the Tour de France" - Former Visma rider Koen Bouwman ready for new challenge with Team Jacyo AlUla in 2025

Dutchman Koen Bouwman will be riding for Team Jayco AlUla in the 2025 season after nearly a decade with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Bouwman, who has been with Visma since 2015, is perhaps best known for his impressive 2022 Giro d’Italia campaign, where he won the mountains classification and two stages.

In a recent interview with Wieler Revue, the 31-year-old reflected on the transition to his new team, revealing he wasn’t nervous ahead of meeting his new colleagues. "You meet so many new people. I introduced myself to everyone, but I don't remember half of the names," he admitted with a laugh.

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New training techniques

Bouwman noted that one of the most striking differences between Team Jayco-AlUla and his former squad is the approach to training. "The training is different. At Team Jayco-AlUla, it's a bit more pushing during training, while at Visma | Lease a Bike it's either very calm or very intense. More black and white," he explained.

Although the shift in training methods presents a new challenge, Bouwman expressed trust in his new team. "I have of course asked why they train that way, but I have confidence in the team. Time will tell if this works for me too."

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Bouwman’s decision to leave Visma was not an easy one. He openly shared the internal struggle he faced when considering the move, especially after years of loyalty to the team. "But in the end it was now or never. If I had extended my contract with Team Visma | Lease a Bike now, I would have ended my career there," he said.

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Acknowledging the depth of talent at Visma, Bouwman admitted, "There are certainly fifteen or twenty guys in that team who are better than me. Of course I thought it was a shame, but I could also understand it." The turning point came when he received his 2024 race program, which excluded him from any Grand Tour. "Only when I got my program last year without a Grand Tour, we did clash. I couldn't agree with it, but yes, in the end I don't make the selections."

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What does Bouwman hope to achieve with Team Jayco-AlUla?

Looking ahead, Bouwman wants to find the right balance of riding for his new team and pursuing his own goals. "Of course the Tour de France is on my mind, but my career will not be a failure if I never go. Then I might go later as a mechanic, haha," he joked.

Despite the possibility of finally making his Tour de France debut with Jayco-AlUla, Bouwman insists this wasn’t a driving factor in his decision to leave Visma. "But that didn't necessarily play a role in my decision to leave. Will I start the training camp with new energy? It does give new energy, but I'm not suddenly going to work harder than last year."

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