Promising talent Reinderink rapidly rising at struggling Soudal Quick-Step: "Everything's moving quickly"

In early January, Soudal Quick-Step held its team press day in Calpe, but Reinderink was nowhere to be found. The reason: he joined the team later. In mid-January, the staff decided to promote him from the youth team. "Pepijn impressed us last season. Not just with his achievements on the road, but also with his work ethic. He’s a rider who can climb, time trial, and loves to attack. We believe he fits well within our team," CEO Lefevere said at the time.

When asked, Reinderink, the current Dutch national champion among U23s, takes us back to the moment he learned he would become a professional cyclist. "It's definitely a dream come true. During the training camp in January, I suddenly got the news that I could make the jump, so it was quite late. Mentally, I was prepared to spend another year at the U23 level and focus on winning races, but I’m glad to be here now, making strides at the WorldTour level," says the ever friendly guy from Almerlo.

After competing in the Tour of Rwanda - where he wore the leader's jersey for two days - he made his presence felt in races like Nokere Koerse and Bredene-Koksijde Classic. This way, he has also earned a spot in the core team for the Flemish races, evidenced by his participation in the E3 Saxo Classic and Dwars door Vlaanderen.

"That's really the big league," beams Reinderink. "I'm in good shape. I feel great, and I think that's why I've also gained the confidence to start in races like the E3 Saxo Classic. I was on standby, but on Monday, the coach called to say I was starting. I immediately got in the car and drove to Flanders."

Reinderink isn’t one to be easily overshadowed and absorbs everything like a sponge. "You immediately notice the toughness of racing and the rapid pace at which you progress. For instance, I’m rooming with Kasper Asgreen, and you inevitably learn a lot. Kasper is a great guy, always focused and looking strong. The same goes for a leader like Julian Alaphilippe; these are the kind of guys you can learn a lot from on the bus."

Following Dwars door Vlaanderen, the 21-year-old Dutchman has an exciting schedule ahead, including later races like the Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold Race. For now, it's all about gaining experience, but he hopes to contend for victories in those events in a few years. "It’s great preparation, and I’m sure I can make further progress. At the moment, my role will mainly involve leading out for key points, but that’s already an important responsibility," says a grateful Reinderink.