CyclingQuotes.com uses cookies for statistics and targeting ads. This information is shared with third parties.
ACCEPT COOKIES » MORE INFO »

Every day we bring you more pro-cycling news

"Robert and I are the GC riders. Laurens will do his thing. And if he does not lose too much time, he can also go for GC. Steven will support us and also wants to try to win a stage. For me, the top 10 is the goal."

Photo: Sirotti

TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE

TEAM PROFILE
|
NEWS

TOUR DE FRANCE

RACE PROFILE
|
NEWS

WILCO KELDERMAN

RIDER PROFILE
|
NEWS
01.07.2015 @ 19:51 Posted by Emil Axelgaard

At 24 years of age, Wilco Kelderman will make his debut in the Tour de France. The talent does so with the most important role in a team: the captaincy. "Together with Robert Gesink, I am the main rider. I want to show myself in my terrain: the mountains and the time trial," the LottoNL-Jumbo rider tells Wielerflits. Steven Kruijswijk and Laurens ten Dam have a free role, but are not protected.

 

Kelderman looked sharp and relaxed at the press conference of his team. "The Tour dever begins to rise a little and it's hot outside," the young rider joked. "However, I am not too nervous. Actually I do not really know what to expect, but I like that uninhibited feeling. Now the media is there and you are always talking about it so every time I get more excited. It's just a race like any other, only slightly more hectic because it is the most important of the year."

 

The goal of LottoNL-Jumbo is clear. 

 

"Robert and I are the GC riders. Laurens will do his thing. And if he does not lose too much time, he can also go for GC. Steven will support us and also wants to try to win a stage. For me, the top 10 is the goal. If all goes well, it is realistic I think. If I had to choose between a stage win or a good GC? That's a tough question. I would go for a stage victory because it is tangible. And Robert  would go for the top 10 ", Kelderman said.

 

The Tour only enters the mountains in the second half. For the leaders of the Dutch WorldTour formation it is important to pay attention in the first week. "Especially the first few days are going to be important, with the time trial in Utrecht and the stage to Neeltje Jans. But the stages to the Mur de Huy and Mur de Bretagne are not to be underestimated, and in between them we have the stage with the cobbles. Furthermore, the team time trial will be an important component. There a top-8 must be possible for us, with the new time trial bike and the brand new wheels from Shimano," he said.

 

 

Despite his leadership role, Kelderman doesnt feel any extra pressure in his first Tour. All eyes are on Kelderman while his contemporary Tim Wellens (Soudal Lotto) gets the chance to gain experience. "For me it's perfect. I like going for the GC. And if I can get full support like now, it is very nice. Furthermore, Tim has not really gone for GC in a greand tour so for him it is all new. He will now get more experience. However, he is a rider who has a bigger chance to win a stage than me."

 

For many riders it would be a dream come true to be able to ride the Tour. For Kelderman this is not the case. "Since I was twelve I have followed almost all races very closely. I watched the races when Lance Armstrong was riding.I liked the Tour but I always found the Giro and the Vuelta special. It's not that I just have to do this race. I only realized how big the Tour is when I turned pro."


"I also went there as a spectator in 2010 at the start in Rotterdam," he added."It is super special with all the Dutch fans. If there was a compatriot, you heard it through the noise when he passed. That was really a magical moment. I expect something similar here in Utrecht. That is very special and will not be so in every race. It certainly gives me an extra boost of adrenaline. I think it's just beautiful."

MORE NEWS:

VIEW SELECTED

Bycykling 101: Navigering i byens gader og cykelvenlige... 27.11.2023 @ 12:11The Best Danish Cyclist To Bet On At 2022 Tour De France 13.01.2022 @ 15:262022 Upcoming Tournament Overview 03.01.2022 @ 09:45Best Place to Find Stand-Up Paddleboards 16.06.2021 @ 08:16What are Primoz Roglic’s Chances to Win 2021 Tour de Fr... 17.03.2021 @ 08:37Amazing victory by young champion Sarah Gigante 04.02.2021 @ 14:21Three reasons why cycling is one of the best ways to ex... 28.09.2020 @ 12:03Why do businesses use meeting room managers? 14.09.2020 @ 13:42Five things that you can do, if you want to gain more f... 20.08.2020 @ 15:38One for the road 09.06.2020 @ 15:25List of CyclingQuotes previews 07.05.2020 @ 13:20Blue Energy: room for all interests 26.08.2019 @ 12:56Get your daily dose of exercise at home 08.07.2019 @ 10:443 good advice to be able to afford your favorite bike 25.02.2019 @ 12:32Cycle through gorgeous landscapes 22.10.2018 @ 21:41Balance Your Economy and Diet and Start Saving Money 08.10.2018 @ 11:18Stay Safe: 3 Helmets That Can Keep Your Head Protected... 20.07.2018 @ 07:59Planning to bet on Tour De France - Bet types and strat... 24.05.2018 @ 14:18Basics of cycling betting 25.10.2017 @ 13:10Bauer moves to ORICA-SCOTT 28.08.2017 @ 10:45End of the road for CyclingQuotes 08.01.2017 @ 16:00Rui Costa confirms Giro participation 07.01.2017 @ 12:55Van Avermaet: I am not afraid of Sagan 07.01.2017 @ 09:45Unchanged course for E3 Harelbeke 07.01.2017 @ 09:32Jenner takes surprise win at Australian U23 Championships 07.01.2017 @ 08:53No replacement for Meersman at Fortuneo-Vital Concept 06.01.2017 @ 19:14Barguil with two goals in 2017 06.01.2017 @ 19:06More details about French Vuelta start emerges 06.01.2017 @ 14:16Kristoff to start season at Etoile de Besseges 06.01.2017 @ 14:10Ion Izagirre announces schedule for first year at Bahrain 06.01.2017 @ 12:40JLT Condor optimistic for Herald Sun Tour 06.01.2017 @ 09:19Haas leads Dimension Data trio in fight for Australian... 06.01.2017 @ 09:15Sagan spearheads Bora-hansgrohe at Tour Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:12Henao and Thomas lead Sky Down Under 06.01.2017 @ 09:09Bauer crowned New Zealand TT champion 06.01.2017 @ 08:33Van der Poel ready to defend Dutch title 05.01.2017 @ 21:00Pantano ambitious for first Tour with Trek 05.01.2017 @ 20:41Landa with new approach to the Giro 05.01.2017 @ 20:36Sunweb Development Team sign Goos and Zepuntke 05.01.2017 @ 20:27Dumoulin confirms Giro participation 05.01.2017 @ 20:19Bauer targets victories in Quick-Step debut 05.01.2017 @ 20:16Gaviria and Boonen lead Quick-Step in San Juan 05.01.2017 @ 20:13Team Sunweb presented in Germany 05.01.2017 @ 20:09ASO take over major German WorldTour race 05.01.2017 @ 11:01Team Sunweb unveil new jersey 05.01.2017 @ 10:54Reactions from the Australian TT Championships 05.01.2017 @ 08:27Dennis defends Australian TT title 05.01.2017 @ 08:21Scotson takes back to back U23 TT titles in Australia 05.01.2017 @ 08:15Utrecht on track to host 2020 Vuelta 04.01.2017 @ 18:28Pre-season setback for Talansky 04.01.2017 @ 17:56Kristoff: It's not impossible for me to win in Rou... 04.01.2017 @ 17:49Boom close to first cyclo-cross win in LottoNL debut 04.01.2017 @ 17:40UAE Abu Dhabi make late signing of Arab rider 04.01.2017 @ 17:36UAE Abu Dhabi unveil new jersey 04.01.2017 @ 17:30BMC unveil race schedule 04.01.2017 @ 17:21

Currently no news in this list

Kevin MOLLOY
54 years | today
Thomas BERKHOUT
40 years | today
Shinpei FUKUDA
37 years | today
Matic VEBER
28 years | today
André VITAL
42 years | today

© CyclingQuotes.com