"With this team I can show the best Wilco Kelderman" - Dutchman motivated for successful season

Wilco Kelderman is having a very different season this year as he returns to his roots, however to a team that now finds itself at the very top of cycling and has big plans for the Dutchman.

“I always consider which team I can get the best out of myself, Jumbo-Visma has everything right," Kelderman said in an interview with Wielerflits. "In the field of nutrition, training, material, actually in every area. With this team I can show the best Wilco Kelderman. That is something that inspires me enormously as a rider. It gives me extra motivation to train hard and go for it. All the people who work here have the same attitude. That was decisive for me.”

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He will have as his main role for the time being a return to the Giro d'Italia where he will be a key domestique for Primoz Roglic. "The Giro is always my favourite. I think that's a nice lap to do and the team wanted me here too. So that choice was easy."

"The division of roles is also clear. Primož has won the Vuelta a España three times and has been on the podium at the Tour de France and the Giro. He can win the Tour of Italy. That is really a main goal for the team and we are super strong for that," he explains.

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In 2020 Kelderman finished on the podium of the Giro after fighting for the GC throughout the whole race. His role will now be different in a superior team, however he will likely have some opportunities throughout the year. "If I'm really good, I can ride on the podium. That happened once. We go for the highest possible and Primož is a top cyclist for that," he says.

"For me it is also not important to ride top 10. That's not something I really want. Of course I try to be high in the rankings for as long as possible. Two men standing short is always better than one. But the goal is to guide Primož to the overall victory," Kelderman admits. "The Giro course is beautiful, very difficult. There are a lot of time trial kilometers in it, but that last week is so tough. Only if you are strong like us can you strike there.”

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"Does it feel like a release that I don't have that pressure anymore? No, because I don't care about that anymore. I can only influence what I can do myself. In addition, I also get my own opportunities," he said, before revealing some of his calendar for the first part of the season.

"In February I will go on an altitude training for three weeks to prepare for Tirreno-Adriatico and the Volta a Catalunya. There I am the leader of Jumbo-Visma. That's great, especially since these are also just main prizes and no preparation races. After Catalunya, I will go to the Giro via a new altitude camp," he concluded.

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