Wilco Kelderman will remain active for Visma-Lease a Bike for two more years. The rider said this Friday in the NOS program De Avondetappe.
“I feel at home in this team and am still super motivated to ride the biggest races,” said Kelderman, whose contract with the Dutch team expired after this season. “I also do my best to guide the young riders of the team.”
Kelderman was not selected for the Tour de France this year, but he will participate in the Vuelta a España next month. In 2021, he finished fifth in the general classification. A year earlier, he was close to winning the Giro d’Italia, but he eventually finished third.
However, Kelderman can now reconcile himself to a domestique role. He is not interested in a free role, like two-time stage winner Thymen Arensman has at INEOS Grenadiers. “I have tried that in the past, but it has never worked out as well as it has for Thymen.”
Kelderman is in his third season with Visma-Lease a Bike. The climber began his professional career with predecessor Rabobank. In 2017, he moved to Sunweb. After two years with BORA-hansgrohe, he returned to the Dutch team in 2023.
Despite his many top rankings, Kelderman has been waiting for a victory for more than ten years. At the Dutch National Time Trial Championships in 2015, he was the best in a cycling race for the last time. He has achieved a total of four victories as a professional rider.