After his time at Jumbo-Visma, Gijs Leemreize now starts at dsm-Firmenich PostNL: "The years have flown by"

Moving from one prominent Dutch WorldTour team to another, Timo Roosen and Gijs Leemreize made the switch this winter from Jumbo-Visma (now Visma | Lease a Bike) to dsm-Firmenich PostNL. Despite the change, Leemreize, following in Roosen's footsteps, notes that the differences aren't stark. He's kicking off his new chapter this week at the Tour of the Algarve, and IDLProCycling.com got the scoop!

The Giro d'Italia of 2022 is still fresh in the memory of Dutch cycling fans. It was a race that saw Tom Dumoulin's hopes for the classification dissolve, Mathieu van der Poel stirring up the race daily, and the rise of talents like Koen Bouwman and Leemreize. The youngster from Ruurlo notched up five top-ten finishes in the stages and seemed on the rise.

However, at the powerhouse stage team of Jumbo-Visma in 2023, there was no spot available for the grand tours, which meant a climber like Leemreize might not have been able to fully utilize his strength. At dsm-Firmenich PostNL, they were quick to pick up the still only 24-year-old rider, and from this week we will see how this collaboration unfolds in the races.

You ended your period at Jumbo-Visma last year with a collarbone fracture, how is it now?

"It's good. That injury has completely healed, so now everything is going well again."

And now you've started your stint with dsm-Firmenich PostNL. How are you finding it so far?

"Really great, actually. We first had a get-to-know-each-other weekend in Austria, which was immediately a lot of fun. We have a great group, which is only being confirmed further at other training camps. It's not really nerve-wracking anymore, I felt that more when I just turned pro. Back then, it was an adjustment to be on the road with the big names."

How do you look back on your time with the big names at Jumbo-Visma?

"With a very good feeling. I joined the Development Team in 2020 and then it came as a surprise that I could turn pro immediately. The years have actually flown by. I've been a pro for three years, but it doesn't really feel like it. It's as if I'm just starting out."

How did your transfer come about exactly? We know, of course, that you wanted to ride a grand tour, but how did that process go?

"I think we started talking to each other around June. I immediately had a good feeling about the team, they have everything well organized, and here I can also ride a really good program, where I can go for my own chances now and then. That way, I also get the space and time to develop myself."

What will that program look like?

"I'll start in the Algarve, then do Paris-Nice, GP Indurain, the Tour of the Basque Country, Tour of the Alps, the Tour of Romandy, Tour of Switzerland, and then I'm on the long list for the Tour. All beautiful stage races, so I'm very happy with that. The Tour is not certain yet, so we'll see about that when the time comes."

That's certainly a great goal to aim for.

"Definitely, it would be really great. The team is not really going for a classification, so it would be nice to be part of it. But first, let's see how those first races go. If the Tour doesn't happen, then the Vuelta is also a possibility. Or both, who knows."

In the 2022 Giro, you certainly made a fantastic introduction to the cycling world. How often do you think back on that race?

"Quite regularly. That was really an eye-opener for me; it was then I realized what I wanted. The level I reached there, I couldn't quite match last year. It was a bit of a down season for me. After the winter, I had knee issues for a while, which meant I couldn't train properly. That already put me at a disadvantage going into the spring. Eventually, I felt like I was getting through it, but that was mainly in a support role. But that's only logical, considering how many strong riders that team had. If you don't perform, you end up in a support role."

Now you're with dsm-Firmenich PostNL's climbers' team, with the Frenchmen Bardet and Barguil and young talents like Max Poole and Oscar Onley. How's the role distribution and vibe?

"It's really great. After the training camp in December, we stayed on with the guys a bit longer, and we arrived a bit earlier for the second training camp. That means you're with a smaller group, so you get to know each other a bit earlier. That's nice."

What are the differences between your new team and your former one?

"It's hard to say; I haven't really noticed any differences yet. Here, we train in three groups: the classics group, sprinters, and climbers. That's one difference, and maybe there will be some more differences during the races, but ultimately, the culture is somewhat the same. Both are Dutch."

Was that an important factor in your choice?

"It was a significant positive point. It feels familiar. The Service Course is close to me, so if I need anything in Deventer, I can just drive over."

What are your goals for the first few months?

"It's mainly about development. I don't really have a goal in terms of results yet. In February, we were at altitude training camp, and we're going straight from there to the Algarve, so it's to see how I respond to that. Then we'll see, the team isn't putting any pressure on that."

Are you also thinking about competing in classifications? In the back of your mind?

"Yes, I'll get the chance to try that occasionally. I've never really tried that at the pro level, so we'll see if it's a realistic goal. As for time trials, I did well in the Giro 2022, but I've never really done well in flat time trials. So, I want to develop in that area too."

That third week of the 2022 Giro, to what extent has that given you confidence for the rest of your career?

"It gave me a lot of confidence. If I go to a grand tour this season, at least I have the feeling that I can recover well and that I improve in comparison."