This winter, Mike Teunissen traded the fluorescent yellow of
Intermarché-Wanty for the azure blue of XDS Astana Team.
Representing his new team, he was available to the press for the
first time on Tuesday. IDLProCycling.com spoke with him at the
five-star hotel where the team is training in Altea, Spain. Teunissen
gave us a sneak peek into 2025 — his focus now as the year winds
down. For a while,
it
looked like Visma | Lease a Bike would once again be his team as of
next season, but towards the end of the season,
Astana
announced his signing for 2025. What exactly happened? Teunissen
isn’t too concerned about that anymore now, in mid-december, and
doesn't want to dwell on it too much either. He’s here in Altea as
an Astana rider, and naturally, that’s the team he wants to talk
about above all others, having already spent the past week and a half
getting to know his new teammates.
XDS Astana’s main goal for 2025 is simple: stay in the
WorldTour. Teunissen can play a key role in that. Over the past two
seasons, he worked hard for Biniam Girmay but still 'casually' picked
up strong results himself, finishing well in races like the European
Championships, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Renewi Tour, Paris-Tours, and
BEMER Cyclassics. The cheerful rider from Ysselsteyn in the
Netherlands won’t say it himself, but he’s clearly still
competing at the highest level of the sport. Here's what he had to
say about the upcoming season.
Read more below the photo!
Teunissen thinks XDS Astana still has lots
of potential
Mike, first of all — how are you?
"Good! It’s always nice to be here and get into the rhythm
of things. We already had a few team days in Italy in November to get
to know each other, but here you're fully focused on the new year.
That’s always exciting."
If I told you a year ago that you’d be riding for Astana now,
what would you have thought?
"My outlook has become a bit more open, so from that
perspective, I wouldn’t have thought it was that weird. But it’s
a new environment with new staff, so in that sense, it’s a shift."
To what extent have you had some culture shock?
"There are definitely things I’m not used to, but we’ve
got a strong Dutch crew here, and of course I’ve been in cycling
for a while now. At the end of the day, you get a bike, a training
plan, and you ride. So, not that much really changes."
Is it exciting in a way?
"As it happens, I was talking to Cees Bol about this during a
chill ride. It is special, because you’re challenging
yourself. It’s easy to keep doing what you’re used to, but
something new can also be refreshing. In that sense, this is really
fun to experience. Intermarché-Wanty was still quite Belgian, so
this is a bit more of a leap into the unknown."
How exactly did this transfer come about?
"They were very interested and actually had a really good
plan. Of course, everyone knows the current situation. They need
points, and they saw me as someone who could help with that. And it
turned out to be a great match, so here we are."
The last few years, you’ve focused on lead-out work. Will you
ride more for yourself now?
"We have some good sprinters here, don't we?"
But I think you're also among that group yourself?
"I don’t really have that illusion, honestly. When I look
at Max, Gleb, or even Cees (Kanter, Syritsa, and Bol, ed.), they
completely outclass me in a sprint. In a normal peloton, there are
always ten guys faster than me, so I’m better off being valuable as
a lead-out for guys I really believe in. That’s the plan."
But those are — with all due respect — not riders that can
match Van Aert or Girmay?
"I don’t know. Would you have placed Girmay where he is now
last year?"
No, but Intermarché-Wanty did at that time.
"That’s true. And here, they have a lot of confidence in
these guys. In terms of their level, they definitely have what it
takes, but there’s still a lot to develop. I’m also trying to
contribute my part to that. I think ‘challenging’ is a good
summary."
Read more below the photo!
Teunissen is cautious in his early days at XDS
Astana
But Mike, isn't it true that you’ll also be aiming more for
your own results? Especially in the spring classics? "Maybe, but we also have Alberto Bettiol, for example. He won
the Tour of Flanders a few years ago. He’s not just anyone. My role
here will be similar to what it was last year, and I think I fit into
that well. I really think we can put together a strong classics
campaign with these guys. And there are certainly opportunities for
me there, but I’m not coming in thinking I’m going to make it all
happen."
You're very modest.
"You’re a fan, I like hearing that. (smiles) Take E3 or
Dwars door Vlaanderen, the top riders are always there. I’m not at
that level, although you always hope for better. Bettiol is, so in
principle, the division of roles is clear."
Although a sixth or seventh place — given Astana’s current
situation — will also be very important to the team next
year.
"Absolutely, that’s true. And we have a few guys for that,
including me, Cees, and Ballerini. We can provide those much-needed
points, so that’s part of the plan."
Will you race more than in previous years?
"That’s actually not so bad. At Intermarché-Wanty, it was
basically the same. We did a lot of races there, and every race was
important. So those changes aren’t too drastic."
Do you already know your race schedule for next year?
"We start in Valencia with two one-day races and build
towards the classics. I was hoping never to ride in the Basque
Country again, so it stays kind of the same."
But in the past two years you have talked about races like Le
Samy, for example, which you specifically mentioned?
"I still need to take a good look at the calendar, but it’s
not like our classics team is that deep. We can’t just put ten
others on the starting line, so we’ll see. There will be plenty of
great races, I’m sure of that."
And what about the Tour de France? Will we see you there again?
"I haven’t really insisted on riding the Tour for a few
years now, but they keep selecting me! But it's definitely great to
be in the mix, so it’s still an option. For now, I’m focusing on
the spring. After that, we’ll see. I’d love to ride the Giro at
some point in my career, but combining a full classics season with
the Giro is tough."
What can you contribute to this team with your experience?
"As Dutch people, we’re quite straightforward, but when
you’re new, you also have to wait and see a bit. But they’re very
supportive and willing to help, so there’s a great mentality in the
team. So far, I’m also really happy with the bike, for example. And
it can only get better, so it’s looking good in that regard."
What did Intermarché-Wanty say about your departure?
"They were disappointed, but that’s life, right? I stopped
by last week and still talk to them a lot. I hope they continue to do
well. But from January 1st, they’re competitors, in a way."