Vuelta and Worlds target for Wilco Kelderman: "Mathieu can become world champion there and I can help with that"

BORA - hansgrohe has hired in Wilco Kelderman a leader but they have gotten instead a rider who has also been at the disposal of the team in crucial ways, not only delivering results but helping Jai Hindley at the Giro d'Italia and hinting towards a repetition of that role later on in the year.

"The legs don't feel bad, but I am a bit tired. But when I'm on the bike, it feels good," Kelderman told Wielerflits at the Dauphiné where he currently sits 11th after stage five. His ambitions into the race were obvious since the start, but he's reinstated: "I want to try to ride a classification here. I've done it in the past, so I just wanted to try it this year. The last weekend is difficult, so we'll see if I can handle that."

Kelderman came off the Giro d'Italia where his goal was to fight for the overall classification, however after a set of mechanicals in stage nine and a massive time lost, he's dedicated himself to team duties where he assisted Jai Hindley to take an incredibly important win for BORA - hansgrohe.

After the Dauphiné he'll have a much deserved resting period before focusing on the second main block of his season - where the Vuelta a España and World championships will be the main goals. “I hope to ride the Vuelta. I have not yet spoken to the team about it, but I do expect that I can participate," he added.

"It depends on. We will then have a very strong team with Sergio Higuita and probably also Jai Hindley. But I'm going to prepare for the classification, otherwise it will be for stage wins or in service. Maybe we'll win another Grand Tour," he launches out with confidence.

And as for the Wollongong World championships, although he himself can be a contender in the hilly circuit, he points out that collective goals for the Netherlands are likely to be his priority. "Certainly, but in the service of Mathieu van der Poel. That seems like a very nice thing to do. Mathieu can become world champion there and I can help with that," he concluded.