Bouwman continues to deliver results for Visma | Lease a Bike, but: "Making the Tour de France team is practically impossible"

Koen Bouwman has notched up his first general classification victory. Dominating the Coppi e Bartali after a week in Eastern Italy, the 30-year-old Dutch sensation has once again highlighted his upward trajectory with Visma | Lease a Bike. The burning question, however, is how much higher can he climb? In am extensive conversation on the last day of the Italian stage race, IDLProCycling.com caught up with Bouwman and his team director Addy Engels. "I'm definitely keen to savor more victories like this!"

Securing the overall win at the Coppi e Bartali was no walk in the park for Bouwman. Before his breakout at the 2022 Giro d'Italia, he had only one professional win under his belt – a significant stage victory at the Critérium du Dauphiné in 2017. Over his nine years with the team, he's largely been a support rider. That all changed at the 2022 Giro, where he snagged two stage wins and the mountains classification, leading to a stage win at the Tour of Slovakia and now, a stage and overall win at the Coppi e Bartali.

"Koen steps up when it counts," Engels observes, leaning on a team car before the start of stage five. "He had that stage win in the Dauphiné, but the Giro really proved to him that he could perform at that level. While opportunities like that are rare, Koen knew the role he had to play last year in the Giro alongside Primoz (Roglic, ed.). He got his chance to shine later in the season in Luxembourg, and we try to plan for those moments. It's incredible to watch him seize the day, whenever he gets the chance."

In 2024, we hadn't seen him racing for his own chances until now. In the Tour Down Under, newcomer Bart Lemmen was outstanding, and in Paris-Nice, Matteo Jorgenson brought along a pair of miraculous legs, good enough for the overall win. "He was superb in France, especially in the team time trial. He led in the sprint stages and was among the top thirty climbers. He had a tough job, but he delivered, offering control and support," Engels notes.

Bouwman agrees. "I had a good winter, although I was sick for about ten days. But then, who isn't these days? In the Tour Down Under, I already felt better than usual for January, although I always take a bit to get into the groove. After that, I spent three weeks in Tenerife, and then in Paris-Nice, I reached a super high level. Basically, from kilometer zero of every stage, I was leading, and I did really well in the team time trial."

"Wilco Kelderman even told me in France to have confidence for the Coppi e Bartali, that I could take a stage. I thought so too," he continues, with a look that screams top form from his chiseled jawline. "I came here with ambitions. Maybe not to win – that's a dream – but from day one, I felt like I could contend for the general classification and a stage win. I've been solid all week, and as a team, we've stayed calm and in control. Winning a GC is very special."

The Italian cycling week once again showcased Bouwman's ability to deliver when Visma | Lease a Bike opens the door for him. Engels approved wholeheartedly. "We approached the Coppi e Bartali differently than usual. Typically, we rally around a clear leader, but this time, we blended our development and WorldTour teams, offering equal opportunities to everyone. It was a delight to see Koen seize his chance. The team fully backed him in the end, striving for the win when you're in such a prime position. Koen was our standout rider here, and he fully deserved that spot."

The smile on Bouwman's face says a lot. He's relished a week where it was all about him. Those moments are sparse. "Of course, I'd love more tastes of this, but I'm in a team that's incredibly strong. Maybe I get one or two chances a year, and this was one of them. One thing's for sure: when you get a chance here, you have to grab it with both hands and prove you can finish it. Whether I get more chances is up to the team. Sure, you can voice your opinion, but the team decides our approach to a race and who the leader is. That's out of my hands."

He means to say: Bouwman isn't about to demand this role elsewhere. And according to Engels, he doesn't need to. "We never hold anyone back from winning. If Koen becomes a regular stage victor in tours, that will naturally come to light with us. It's just hard to say how much more potential there is. In a race like Paris-Nice, there's no room for him, especially since Jorgenson was aiming for the win. However, if your GC rider is aiming for fifth place, that already creates more opportunities. Starting with Jonas Vingegaard, there's no room, but there are always chances."

Visma | Lease a Bike's message is clear: show us what you've got. "Koen usually participates in the Tour of Switzerland, where we don’t really compete for the general classification. Those are opportunities, but the Tour of Switzerland is on a different level compared to the Coppi e Bartali," Engels suggests an opening. "Koen has shown in the Giro that he can win at the highest level, so he definitely has the qualities. He also has a knack for it, Koen knows exactly which day is his and then he can finish it. However, for his type of rider, opportunities are rare because races often favor sprinters or GC contenders, and Koen is somewhere in between. There are a few of those moments in every race, and a lot of things need to align perfectly."

Bouwman seems to easily solve that puzzle, but according to Engels, he also has the talent to lay out the pieces for others. "He hasn’t changed his demeanor. He’s super relaxed and grounded. But one area where he has made significant progress is his acute awareness of race dynamics, even in races where we have a single leader. Even though he’s not the GC leader, he possesses leadership qualities and contributes to discussions on race strategy. Especially in a young group like in the Coppi e Bartali, where he can dictate his preferences. He’s incredibly valuable in informing the guys about what’s likely to happen and what’s best for the team."

Alongside the likes of Steven Kruijswijk and Robert Gesink, Bouwman is one of the original members of the team. Well, almost. "Koen has experienced a lot; he’s been here for a long time. 2016 was his first year with us, and he’s witnessed the team’s entire evolution. He’s participated in grand tours where we were in the lead but didn’t clinch the victory, and in grand tours where we did succeed. He’s packed with experience and has the ability to share that knowledge."

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Plenty of praise, but also grounded insights. Bouwman is the first to acknowledge that his record of six Giro participations and three Vueltas, with no Tour de France appearances yet, isn't by chance. "I can certainly continue to dream. A huge dream is to win another stage in a different grand tour someday. Whether that's the Tour de France or the Vuelta... Naturally, I'd choose the Tour, but I'd also find the Vuelta really cool. Moreover, I enjoy supporting a lead rider to win – that's something I find both fun and fulfilling. But having a week like this one, racing for my own chances, is also incredibly enjoyable. I hope to find somewhere a balance between the two."

"So, will he ever ride the Tour de France?" we directly ask Engels. "That’s an impossible question to answer. It depends on Koen, but also on the team's evolution. Every year, new guys come in and the team becomes stronger across the board. Koen needs to keep up, but that applies to everyone. It’s going to be a tough task."

But is Bouwman really at a lower level during a high-altitude training camp than the guys who are considered for the Tour? The Dutchman nods. "Those guys do have a slightly higher level, although I think my level in training differs from in races when I compare myself to other guys. In races, I always prove I'm among the better ones, but making it into the Tour squad of Visma | Lease a Bike... That's practically impossible, and I'm aware of that. I don't harbor any illusions about being part of a preliminary selection. Maybe that's too down-to-earth, but on the other hand, it's also reality. I've been with the team for nine years and have never been close to the Tour de France."