"When the broadcast starts you don't see me riding, but that's how you can recognize a domestique" - Jan Maas on importance of loyal domestiques

Jan Maas is becoming a constant in Dutch national team. The 27-year old will start in his third big international event wearing the orange jersey this Sunday. Maas will never be the most striking name in Dutch lineup, however national coach Koos Moerenhout sees his value elsewhere.

"Within and outside the race, they know what to expect from me," he describes himself to IDLProCycling. "You can't ride the World Championships with eight Mathieu van der Poels or Dylan van Baarles. That might be nice on this circuit in Glasgow, but it often doesn't work out."

You could easily describe Maas as a super-domestique, someone who knows what is expected of him. "If they tell me I have to do something up to a certain stage in the race, then they know I'm there and will go to hell and back for the leaders," says the Dutch rider. "This is very much appreciated by both my own team, Jayco AlUla, and the World Championship selection. You may not see it on TV, but in big races, it's very important. Shielding from the wind, fetching water bottles, joining breakaway groups… when the broadcast starts you don't see me riding, but that's how you can recognize a domestique."

Recognition, though, is often more difficult for the general public. "I often try to explain to people who are a bit further removed from the race: there are many good Dutch professional cyclists," explains Maas. "Maybe there are even twenty others who could fulfill that role, but everything around it is very important. Atmosphere, for example; it's not that I'm some kind of party animal, but I'm easy-going and that helps."