Steven de Jongh is ready for a new step in his career. In 2017 the current Tinkoff manager wants to have his own cycling team."I think the current economy allows us to attract more sponsors,” he tells NOS about the chances of success for his new project.

The former professional cyclist has been active as a team leader for a long time, first at Sky, now at Tinkoff. In Oleg Tinkov’s team he is working closely with GC rider Alberto Contador who won this year’s Giro d’Italia. Tinkov will sell his team at the end of 2016.

For this reason, De Jongh wants to start a new team. At Nyenrode Business Universty, De Jongh studies Sport and Management with former athletes and coaches the study Sports and Leadership. If he has his own team, he has to spend more time at the desk than in the team car.

De Jongh’s dream is to be competitive with a global team. He has set a deadline at next year’s Tour de France to secure the budget for the new formation. It won’t be a team with a Dutch focus. ”Cycling has become very global. I think you also have to organize a team in that way.

"I'm looking for a team that can do well in both the classics and the stage races.”

De Jongh mainly thinks the current marketing models will make cycling more interesting for companies.

"Then you should think about filming meetings, filming massages, filming team leaders in cars, things like that. That is still a bit of a taboo but it is attractive for potential backer or to deliver unique content.”