Visma-Lease a Bike rider reflects on final race of the team: “The last time in black and yellow, that is a strange feeling”

Dutch rider Koen Bouwman is set to leave Visma-Lease a Bike, where he has spent a large part of his career, to join Team Jayco-AlUla. The 30-year-old, who won the Giro d’Italia mountains classification in 2022, has expressed mixed emotions about his move.

“The last time in black and yellow, that is a strange feeling,” Bouwman told Wielerflits. “It is not something that makes me sad, but it is something that I certainly thought about for a long time before making that decision. In the end, I chose a nice new team and I am looking forward to the future with great pleasure. But in any case, I have been received very well over the past nine years and I have enjoyed myself very much. I will miss that.”

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Bouwman’s tenure at Visma-Lease a Bike has been marked by success, and he is deeply appreciative of the opportunities the team provided him.

“Think about winning major tours, you don’t get to do that very often as a rider. That I was able to do that twice, winning the biggest races with the team, is unique. In addition, I have evolved very nicely as a rider. I joined the team as certainly not the greatest talent. But the record of achievements I have and the races I have won, I could not have done without them. I am grateful for that.”

Bouwman’s move to Jayco-AlUla was carefully considered, and the team’s timing played a crucial role in his decision.

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“They were at the top of the list of teams I really wanted to go to, together with one team. For a long time, it looked like I would go to another team, but Jayco came along at exactly the right time before I signed. In the last year I realised that I know quite a few riders there. When things are quiet in the peloton, you quickly start asking: how are things with you, and so on? My interest was aroused, especially after the first conversations, where they expressed a lot of confidence in me. Then the match was quickly made.”

Looking ahead, Bouwman is excited about the race schedule at his new team and the roles he’ll take on.

“It will be a mix of smaller races and big tours that I will be allowed to ride,” says Bouwman. “I would like to go to the Tour de France again, but I would also like to do the Giro and Vuelta again in a more free role. We will sit down together this winter to discuss what it will be. I will also definitely continue to ride in the service of leaders, and I think that is also completely fine and a good change.”

Bouwman’s departure marks the end of a successful chapter at Visma-Lease a Bike, but his future with Jayco-AlUla looks equally promising. Fans will no doubt be eager to see how he performs in his new environment.