Yesterday marked Merijn Zeeman’s final day with our team. He left us with deep gratitude for everything he brought, unforgettable moments, a lasting impact on our team, and this beautiful message. All the best for the future, Merijn!
Merijn Zeeman bids farewell to Visma | Lease a Bike: "We were seen as underdogs when I joined"
CyclingTuesday, 01 October 2024 at 10:18
Monday, September 30, was Merijn Zeeman's last day at Visma | Lease a Bike. The Alkmaar native announced in April that he would be starting at football club AZ on December 1. Through the team's X account, the 45-year-old Zeeman shared a touching farewell video.
"Yesterday was Merijn Zeeman's last day with our team," reads the caption accompanying the video. "He leaves us with immense gratitude for everything he has brought us—unforgettable moments, a lasting impact on our team, and this beautiful message. All the best for the future, Merijn!"
In the stunning compilation video, we see the many highs and lows that Zeeman experienced with the Dutch formation. His first quote perhaps best captures his time with the team: "When I arrived here, we were seen as underdogs. But through hard work, resilience, and believing in one another, we have transformed into one of the best cycling teams in the world."
Read more below the tweet!
Unique achievements in successful years: what Zeeman calls 'unforgettable'
Zeeman joined the Rabobank team in 2012, which became known as Jumbo-Visma in 2019. Over the years, 2023 stood out as the most remarkable for both the Dutchman and his team. Jumbo-Visma triumphed with Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard, and Sepp Kuss, winning all three Grand Tours and achieving an astonishing total of 69 victories that year. This same trio also claimed the podium spots at the Vuelta a España, an exceptional feat.
In addition to these achievements, Zeeman highlights many other successes from his time with the Dutch team in his farewell video. Notable moments include Dylan Groenewegen's victory on the Champs-Élysées in 2017 and Steven Kruijswijk's podium finish in the 2019 Tour de France. The back-to-back Tour victories of Vingegaard are also featured, along with the rise of the women's team. "It was unforgettable, and I am proud to have shared this experience with all of you," concludes the departing Zeeman.
The calendar for the new cyclo-cross season is now online! Check it out here. Or check out our general calendars for the remainder of the season for the men and women's races.
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Latest Comments
- 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
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024