Richard Plugge aims to repeat his team's dominance: "The ambition for the biggest races on the calendar remains great"

For Jumbo-Visma, 2023 was nothing less than a top year. Team manager Richard Plugge enjoyed the success, but is also looking ahead. He writes this in his column in the new RIDE Magazine.

"We are incredibly proud of the results, but especially of the way in which they were achieved," says Plugge. "We allowed ourselves to no longer have both feet on the ground, but to enjoy the success with our heads in the clouds. If it isn't allowed now, when? At the same time, everyone in our organization is quickly focusing on tomorrow; what went well? What could be better? And what will the next few years look like?"

In 2024, Jumbo-Visma will have to do without Primoz Roglic, because the Slovenian will leave for BORA-hansgrohe. "With Jonas, Wout, Sepp, Olav, Christophe and all the others, we are armed to continue to compete at the top in the coming years, even without Primoz. The ambition for the biggest races on the calendar remains great, and defending the title at the Tour de France with Jonas is a logical goal."

Visma | Lease a Bike, as the Dutch team will be called from January, wants to write sports history, Plugge emphasizes. "This includes new objectives, which are different from last year. They cannot be compared with those of 2023. 2024 could be another top season, with perhaps even more goals achieved. We will set the bar high again, but realistically with a great eye for development. Olav will make his debut in a grand tour. With Ben, Johannes, Loe, Matteo and Per we have young talents who can take the next step."