Visma say goodbye to another one of it's climbers: "You became the first Dutchman to win the Giro d’Italia’s mountain classification"

Team Visma | Lease a Bike are reinforcing themselves well this winter but are also losing quality riders. One of them is Koen Bouwman who has signed a two-year deal with Team Jayco AlUla after not having a spot in the team's Grand Tours this year.

"Thank you Koen Bouwman. Thank you for proudly and joyfully wearing the colors of Team Visma | Lease a Bike from 2015 to 2024. You joined us as a trainee, but quickly proved your worth. We saw your potential early on and soon realized you offered far more than just strong legs on the bike," Visma wrote in a social media post.

"You are truly a beautiful person—one of those special individuals who only come along once in a generation. Your skills on the bike, combined with your positive outlook on life, led you to great success. In 2017, you claimed a stage win in the Critérium du Dauphiné and finished that race in the mountain jersey. It was a prelude to what would become the pinnacle of your career so far in 2022".

Bouwman was signed in 2015 after a stint in the Dutch continental scene and the under-23 SEG Racing team. He was mostly in a domestique positioning throughout his long stint in the Dutch team. In 2021 he finished 12th at the Giro d'Italia and in the next year he won two stages from the breakaways and won the KOM classification. This year he won the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali

"Your two stage victories in that year’s Giro d’Italia will remain etched in our memories. From that moment on, the color blue became forever tied to you, as you became the first Dutchman to win the Giro d’Italia’s mountain classification. We witnessed you showcasing your class and affirming your tremendous talent as a rider."

Back in March Bouwman openly talked about his departure from the team after he was told he wouldn't be selected to the Giro d'Italia - "If, even in that role, I am not allowed to participate in the most beautiful thing that cycling has to offer, a Grand Tour, that makes me think". Although he was later selected to fill in the spot of a teammate who couldn't make it, he ended up not taking to the start anyway as he suffered with illness shortly before the Grande Partenza.

"We wish you the best of luck with your new team. We are confident you will thrive there and continue to achieve great things. We’ll be cheering you on as you chase new victories—because we know you have what it takes! It’s been a great ride together," the team concluded.