๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ค ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ, ๐๐จ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฆ๐๐ง, Thank you for proudly and joyfully wearing the colors of Team Visma | Lease a Bike from 2015 to 2024. You joined us as a trainee, but quickly proved your worth. We saw your potential early on and soon realized you offered far more thanโฆ
๐ฅ Bouwman says goodbye to Visma | Lease a Bike after nine years: "We actually had no business being there"
CyclingFriday, 29 November 2024 at 11:22
As a trainee, Koen Bouwman joined Team LottoNL-Jumbo in 2015, but more than nine years later, the Dutch rider's adventure with present-day Visma | Lease a Bike is ending. The 30-year-old climber moves to Jayco AlUla in the new year, but not before the Killer Bees say goodbye to him with a video in which Bouwman shines.
"Thank you, Koen Bouwman," the video is captioned on the Dutch formation's official channels. "Thank you for proudly and joyfully wearing the colors of Team Visma | Lease a Bike from 2015 to 2024. You joined us as a trainee but quickly proved your worth. We saw your potential early on and soon realized you offered far more than strong legs on the bike. You are truly a beautiful personโone of those special individuals who only come along once in a generation," Richard Plugge's team has beautiful words for the Dutch rider.
Bouwman had his greatest success with the yellow formation during the 2022 Giro d'Italia. The Dutch rider won two stages in that edition and eventually took home the mountain jersey. "Those victories will be engraved in our memory forever," he said. "From that moment on, the color blue was forever linked to you, as you became the first Dutch rider to win the mountain GC in the Giro," the team looks back. "We wish you the best of luck with your new team. We are confident you will thrive there and continue to achieve great things. We'll be cheering you on as you chase new victoriesโbecause we know you have what it takes! It's been a great ride together," concludes Visma | Lease a Bike.
Read more below the video!
Bouwman recounts highlights in video: "Went there with a weak team"
Bouwman himself, in the video, recalls memories of his highlights with the team, including his very first victory in the colors of LottoNL-Jumbo. For that, we have to go back to the third stage of the Critรฉrium du Dauphinรฉ 2017. "We went there with a weak team, so to speak, compared to the rest of the field,' Bouwman remembers. 'We had no business being there. But that made it even more special when I suddenly won the stage. On that same day, my youth coach passed away, which made it even more special in hindsight." The Dutchman looked back at the images of that particular day.
So, after over nine years, Bouwman finds a new challenge at Jayco AlUla. He explained earlier why his choice had fallen on the Australian formation. "There had already been contact with a few other teams, and then Jayco Alula came along. Those talks felt good; they expressed confidence. It is a much smaller team than Visma, and their budget is also a lot smaller, but for me, it was first and foremost about the sportive aspect," he said. He is incredibly grateful to his ex-employer. "A big thank you for the past years. I've enjoyed it. And also, being proud of the team, I'll definitely always keep yellow and black in my heart," he said with a smile
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Latest Comments
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024