While Bauke Mollema and Robert Gesink are still yet to prove their worth as serious Grand Tour contenders, Wilco Kelderman slowly matures into carrying a responsibility of being the brightest Dutch stage racing star. „The expextations towards Wilco are pretty high,” the LottoNL-Jumbo sports director Nico Verhoeven agreed.

Kelderman confirmed his huge potential last year by finishing Giro d'Italia seventh in the general classification and riding impressively in the Criterium du Dauphine afterwards. The 23-year old Dutchman admitted that it was an important step in his development as a future GC rider.

„Every time I just move a little bit closer to the top,” Kelderman told NOS.

A steady development of LottoNL-Jumbo leader is not an empty slogan, as the 23-year old kicked-off the new season with an impressive ride in Vuelta a Andalucia. Kelderman rode below par against the clock last year, but opened up his 2015 account in an entirely different fashion, finishing runner-up in the Spanish race's prologue. Young Dutchman added very consistent performances on both Alto de Hazallanas and Alto de Allanadas to confirm his potential as one of the most exciting talents of his generation, but it increases a pressure and already high expectations.

„Now the pressure will be even bigger, but I'm alright with that. I personally expect a lot from myself and I feel really strong,” he insisted.

A first appearance at the Tour de France is usually treated as a time of gaining painful yet important experience, and so some would think that Kelderman will be relegated to support GC ambitions of his older team-mate, Robert Gesink. The LottoNL-Jumbo sports director suggests, though, that it might go another way around..

„Or the other way,” he answered while asked if Kelderman is going to ride for Gesink in the Tour.

The 23-year old Dutchman, as usually, remains modest in his expectations and claims to be satisfied with a top 10 spot in his Tour de France debut. Modest only considering a scale of his talent, of course.

„Froome and Contador will be stabbing themselves and everyone else remains slightly beyond their level. But the top ten of fifteen would be very nice. Top three is currently unreal,” concluded Kelderman, stressing especially the „currently” part.