Even though Wilco Kalderman has only concluded his career’s second grand tour appearance at the Giro d’Italia, inspired by promising results obtained in Italy, the 23-year old Dutchman quickly focused on the future and revealed that debuting at the Tour de France would be his main objective of the 2015 season.

Kelderman debuted in the three-week long event in last year’s Giro d’Italia while riding in the support of Robert Gesink, and did surprisingly well, finishing the race 17th in the general classification. The 23-year old Dutchman returned to the Italian grand tour this season, and proved to be one of the greatest prospects for this kind of competition, animating early mountain stages of the race.

Even though young Kelderman gradually faded in the brutal last week of the Giro, he managed to leave his mark as one of the most impressive and dynamic climbers of the event, regarded as a serious podium contender before the most decisive stages divided real men from boys.

It seems that improving climbing skills cost the young Belkin rider some of his power in time trialing as he performed slightly below expectations in the Berbaresco-Barolo ITT, but nonetheless the 23-year old Dutchman still has everything what it takes to become a grand tour winner in the future.

Having his confidence significantly boosted after improving on his last year’s result from the Giro d’Italia and reaching season’s main objective, defined as finishing within top ten in the general classification, Kelderman stated that first appearance at the Tour de France in 2015 would be the next logical step in his development as grand tour contender.

"It seems logical that I will start there," Kelderman said.

"If you look at his development, it's probable that he will make his Tour debut next year," Belkin Procycling sports director Frans Maassen confirmed. 

In his only two appearances in three-week events Kelderman has already proved that he is capable of delivering expected results and mature enough to play the role of team leader. With the likes of Robert Gesink, Bauke Mollema or Laurens Ten Dam all eager to ride the Tour, the 23-year old Dutchman most likely will be forced to settle for riding in supporting capacity. However, Kelderman insists to be ready to share captaincy with his team-mates, additionally motivated by the fact that 102nd edition of the French grand tour will start in Utrecht, only 30 km away from his home town.  

"The Tour de France is the biggest race of them all," he tells Algemeen Dagblad today. "That's where I want to be". The Grand Départ in Utrecht in 2015 is a mere 30 kilometres from his home in Barneveld. 

"I don't need to be at the Tour every year," Kelderman said. "But it seems logical to me that I will take that step up after finishing two Giro's. Especially since the start of the Tour is so close to home next year." 

"I would be very disappointed if I didn't start the Tour next year. It's not that I need to be the team's captain there. But maybe I can be one of the team's captains."

Still, the talented Belkin rider will ride the Criterium du Dauphine before enjoying a well deserved holidays. Then, he is set to participate at the Vuelta a Espana as his main objective of the second part of the 2014 season and his career’s third grand tour event.