Yesterday marked Merijn Zeeman’s final day with our team. He left us with deep gratitude for everything he brought, unforgettable moments, a lasting impact on our team, and this beautiful message. All the best for the future, Merijn!
Team Visma | Lease a Bike says goodbye to DS that guided team to Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana wins
CyclingTuesday, 01 October 2024 at 11:27
This morning began with some news from the Team Visma | Lease a Bike field that is relatively important. Merijn Zeeman, head DS of the team and the man who guided the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Primoz Roglic and Wout van Aert to many big wins, will leave the team.
In a message shared on social media, alongside a lengthy video paying tribute to Zeeman, the team shared this message: "Yesterday marked Merijn Zeeman’s final day with our team. He left us with deep gratitude for everything he brought, unforgettable moments, a lasting impact on our team, and this beautiful message. All the best for the future, Merijn!
"As I say goodbye to Team Visma | Lease a Bike I can't help but reflect on the incredible journey we have shared. When I first joined we were seen as underdogs, but through hard work and resilience and belief in one another we transformed into one of the best cycling teams in the world. It's been a journey I'm deeply proud to have been part of," Zeeman shared in a message.
Zeeman's presence in the team is one that is undeniably crucial. Although other DS' over the year have gained notoriety over also being able to manage a lot of big egos within a very strong team, Zeeman's work during the Grand Tours saw the team conquer many throughout the 2020's - including two Tour de France editions. In 2023, the team won all three with Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard and Sepp Kuss respectively. During the important days, as well as often being the case in the cobbled classics, Zeeman was the man behind the wheel.
There are so many unforgettable moments: Dylan Groenewegen's win on the Champs-Élysées; Steven Kruijswijk's Tour de France podium; Primoz Roglic his Giro victory, his first Vuelta; Jonas Vingegaard back-to-back Tour wins; the Vuelta podium sweep; Wout van Aert's triumphs and leadership; the rise of our women's team and the growth of our youth riders. And so many great athletes, I can't name them all but I am proud of each and every one of them," he says. The Dutch team became an example for many World Tour structures over the past years, being the strongest structure in several seasons including 2023 despite not having the budget of other teams such as UAE Team Emirates and INEOS Grenadiers.
"Alongside these highs came moments of heartbtreak, near-misses and crashes but with every setback we grew stronger. Winning all three Grand Tours in one season still feels surreal, and standing on those podiums brought immense pride. What I will miss most though isn't just the victories, it's the culture we built together; the values, the passion, friendship and shared determination is what makes this team so special, what sets up apart is that everyone matters."
"Every voice, every role and every effort counts. Together we built a culture of unity and trust, always putting the team first, that is what makes me proud. Although my time here ends, I will always be cheering you on. it's been unforgettable and I'm proud to have shared it with you," he concluded.
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