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."