Wilco Kelderman doesn't blame Visma | Lease a Bike for missing Tour de France: "I had indicated I would like to ride it"

It must be said: Kelderman knows his stats. When asked, "Algarve, it’s been a while, right?" he immediately responded, "That’s right. Must have been 2014." Spot on—he last raced in Portugal in 2014, finishing fifth overall. "It’s been a long time since I raced in the Algarve. But it’s a great race to start the season. The weather is good, the hotels are nice, and we don’t have to travel too much. So it’s all good," he said.

Kelderman is in good shape and feeling strong, he says. After completing the team training camps, he added an extra training block in Mallorca alongside Tiesj Benoot, Wout van Aert, and Julien Vermote. "I’m feeling great. I had a fantastic winter, where I was able to train consistently and didn’t get sick or anything."

In the queen stage of the Volta ao Algarve, Wilco Kelderman—like the rest of his Visma | Lease a Bike teammates—started with ambition, but in the end, he couldn’t quite keep up. He laughs at his own realization. "In the race, you really notice that you still need some race sharpness. Heading toward Alto de Foia, I felt like we could really put up a fight, but that turned out differently," he said with a grin. "Those accelerations—the ones you don’t quite do in training—you really feel the absence of those in a race."

"It was a brutal stage, with a lot of steep sections and climbs," he added, referring to the stage won by Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). "That’s when you really notice the difference compared to the guys who have already raced this season. If you’ve done more racing, your body is more accustomed to that level of intensity. Right now, my muscles just aren’t there yet." And how does that feel? "Kind of like a cramp sensation—the whole time. If I had pushed much harder, I probably would have ridden myself straight into cramps. So I decided to hold back a bit."

Kelderman is starting his 2025 season in Portugal, but where will we see him next? "After the Algarve, I’ll go on an altitude training camp, then I’ll race in Catalonia and the Basque Country, followed by the Giro. The Giro is a big goal, but Catalonia and the Basque Country are also important for me. Jonas Vingegaard will be racing in Catalonia, but in the Basque Country, I’ll have a free role."

"If an opportunity presents itself, I’ll try to take it. But I’m not actively hunting for one," he said, staying as realistic as ever. A glance at his race calendar reveals that Tirreno-Adriatico and Paris-Nice are missing—a deliberate choice. In both 2023 and 2024, those races resulted in injuries that ultimately cost him his chance to race the Giro d’Italia.

The Giro d’Italia is back on Wilco Kelderman’s race calendar for 2025, but it wasn’t his first choice. "I told the team I would really like to ride the Tour, but I also knew how tough it would be in this squad. We have so many strong climbers, and a few of them are just a bit stronger. So I understood why they took someone else. The Giro is also a great opportunity."

And what an opportunity it is—Visma | Lease a Bike is bringing a stacked lineup to Italy. Alongside Kelderman, the team includes Wout van Aert, Simon Yates, Olav Kooij, Steven Kruijswijk, Bart Lemmen, Dylan van Baarle, and Edoardo Affini. "My role will be to help Simon, Wout, and also Olav, and maybe I can go for a result myself at some point. But it’s mainly about supporting those guys."

Kelderman was part of the group of Dutch riders left out of the Tour de France team, but he was selected for the Giro, which sparked some discussion in the Netherlands. However, within Visma | Lease a Bike, it wasn’t a controversial decision. "Nobody in our team looks at nationality when making selections. But I understand that Dylan is disappointed. And Olav too, because he seems ready for the Tour now. That said, I don’t think they see it as: ‘Oh, there’s no Dutch rider in the Tour.’ We have an incredibly strong team, and they all know that. Plus, a lot can still happen—I’m also a reserve for the Tour."

"For that reason, I won’t be racing in June, except for the national championships. With what’s coming up later in the season, which will likely be quite busy with the Vuelta and Poland, this is the best option," said Kelderman, who isn’t particularly eager about the World Championships in Rwanda. "It’s not really a goal for me or something I feel like I absolutely have to do. It also depends on how the second half of the season unfolds and how fresh I am. I’m not really a classics rider. I don’t see myself as a real contender for the world title because there are so many stronger guys. Riding a World Championship is great, but this time, there’s more to consider."

Because of that backup role, Kelderman will not race in June, except for the championships. "With what’s coming up later in the season—most likely a busy schedule with the Vuelta and Poland—it’s the best choice," he explained. As for the World Championships in Rwanda, Kelderman isn’t particularly eager. "It’s not really a goal for me, or something I feel like I absolutely have to do. It depends on how the second half of the season unfolds and how fresh I am. I’m not really a classics rider, and I don’t see myself as a contender for the world title—there are so many stronger guys. Riding a World Championship is great, but this time, there’s more to consider."

Finally, Kelderman’s three-year contract with Visma | Lease a Bike is coming to an end. What can we expect regarding his future? "I feel good in the team, and they know what they can expect from me. So there’s no real need to prove myself extra. I have a solid role in the squad, and we respect each other’s value," the loyal Dutchman concluded.