Budding doesn't just want to be Bomboi's lead-out at TDT-Unibet: "I think we'll continue to alternate the leader role"

Budding wants to make good use of the experience he gained at Roompot and Riwal to impress in the new season. "I'm a bit older now, but I try to see that as something positive. I think I can use it to get myself or a teammate into the finals of races. Besides, because of my age, I've also been able to build a bigger engine."

Budding shows that perseverance pays off. Although, it was sometimes hard for him to keep believing in himself. "When I had to take a step back after Roompot, I was in the prime of my life. Then I was able to quickly make the step up again. When Riwal also stopped, it became difficult for me to keep motivating myself. There was a moment when I thought: is this what I want? Is it all worth it? In the end, I persevered and now I am becoming a pro again for two years, but there were certainly moments when I thought about quitting."

The sprinter hopes to participate in the world's biggest races with this team. "When the team was formed, I already saw the potential. Of course, I didn't want to get ahead of myself but I did think: this is the team with which I can go to Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, hopefully even a grand tour."

But Budding's role in the team is still a bit uncertain. At the beginning of 2023, Budding was the man for the sprints, but Davide Bomboi rapidly developed in the autumn while Budding struggled with injuries. "I don't think that in 2024 we will necessarily have a role distribution where I'm the lead-out and Davide is the sprinter. I think we will continue doing what we did this year, taking turns as the leader. In addition, I will try to improve my other specialty: short climbs and finishes in small groups," Budding thinks, referring to races like the Volta Limburg Classic. "We must not forget that we also have a lot of good, new guys for that kind of work. We'll see."