Kruijswijk remains of crucial importance for Visma | Lease a Bike: "They arrive in a made bed"

Do you guys still remember Steven Kruijswijk? You know, that top-notch rider from Visma | Lease a Bike? Perhaps some had forgotten he still existed, but on Monday in the Tirreno-Adriatico, the 36-year-old Dutchman finally started his season. Extremely late, but that's all part of the plan with the veteran, who still plays an incredibly important role at the Dutch team. IDLProCycling.com spoke with him.

How are you? Have you ever started your season this late?

"This is indeed quite late in my career, yes. There is a reasoning behind it, and I have a lot of races in the coming weeks, so we've tried to work towards this block. From here, we want to be good."

What's the idea behind this late start?

"The idea is to start this block of three stage races feeling fresh. We could start in January, but the team always opts for good preparation, where we lay a solid foundation. Towards the Tour de France, you want to reach a good level that you can build on. That's why we race a bit less in the beginning."

Was it hard watching the races these past weeks, or are you used to that with this team by now?

"Yes, I'm used to it. And I know it works. We had a very good training camp with a group of eleven riders while all those races were happening. We worked hard. Of course, you're ready to race, but I also know that the important competitions for the team are only starting now, not in January."

How fit are you?

"I don't know exactly where I stand right now. I have a good level for the spring, although that's normally never my best period. The aim is to grow to a good level in the mountains, especially for the stages scheduled this Friday and Saturday. I want to be important for Jonas. I'll be racing a lot with him this year, and in those races, I want to be significant for him because he can win anywhere he starts. He needs the best support for that, and for that, I need my best level."

I haven't been able to ask you over the past weeks, because you're only starting now, but what do you notice about Roglic's departure?

"Of course, you miss a spearhead in the team, someone who accounts for many victories a year. But it was also somewhat expected that Jonas, especially with an eye on the Tour, was becoming the man within the team. Primoz chose for himself, and that was somewhat to be expected. It's different, but we still have plenty of goals to pursue, and we're also busy training and preparing Primoz's successors. That continues unabated."

Roglic and Kruijswijk, back when they were still together on the same team

At your last contract renewal, you were officially pushed into the role of road captain and mentor. How are you developing in that role, knowing that you can still cycle so hard yourself? What is Steven Kruijswijk like during a training camp?

"There are so many things that are obvious to me, but not to new riders. Young guys like Cian and Ben (Uijtdebroeks and Tulett, ed.) are still young riders who need to get used to how they should develop in our team. I have been there from the beginning and know what is now in place, but more importantly, what is ahead for those guys. They are stepping into a made bed, and then it's up to them to handle it well. I try to guide them during training camps, wanting to preserve the culture that the team has built. I involve those young riders in this, and it goes very well and naturally. I don't want to act only as a mentor; I also want to contribute to the team's performance myself."

You've been monitoring your performance data, even after years of ups and downs. If you manage to stay injury-free this year, where do you see your performance level heading into 2024?

"That's of course somewhat the question, but I certainly hope to reach my peak in the Grand Tours and the tougher stage races, similar to what I showed two years ago in the Dauphiné and the first half of the Tour de France. I was among the top ten climbers there, so I can support Jonas – when needed – also tactically. It's my personal ambition to be really valuable in the mountains and to be up there."