"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
Cycling
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.
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."
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.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike's strength in numbers makes it difficult for some riders to make a name for themselves
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."
Read also
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."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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