Visma | Lease a Bike enters new era after parting Gesink and Zeeman: "Geez, where to start?"

As a time trial specialist, Heijboer consistently flew in for the big tour time trials and was thus also in Madrid on Sunday for the concluding ordeal in the Vuelta. Of course, for him, the farewell to Gesink was also pivotal. The Rotterdam native watched the ancients finish together with his former trainer Louis Delahaije, and of course, the necessary specialist matter was discussed in the Spanish capital.

With Gesink and Zeeman's departure, only a few people remain on board who experienced the decline of the (then) LottoNL-Jumbo team: Director Richard Plugge, of course, but also rider Steven Kruijswijk, team manager Frans Maassen, and rider and then team manager Maarten Wynants. Wilco Kelderman is also back in the old nest, while former riders Jos van Emden, Jan Boven, and Paul Martens hold other positions within the team.

Anyway, it should be clear that Gesink and Zeeman symbolize the journey the team has been on together. Heijboer also realizes this, who, as a trainer, will, of course, say goodbye to Gesink after his retirement and, together with Grischa Niermann, Jacco Verhaeren, Patrick Broe, and Robbert de Groot, will form the sporting management of Visma | Lease a Bike from October 1.

"Well, geez, yes (silence), where to begin?"

"Actually mainly a steady asset. Someone you can always build on and count on, who is always there. Especially in the big tours. He has always been a certainty for us, and this year with the Giro and Vuelta. That's the most important thing, a steady asset."

"Definitely. That's the way it has grown. In our bad years, he kept us going with his good performances. In 2017, we started to grow as a team, and he took on a different role, with guys like Primoz Roglic coming to the top. Guys who were even better than him."

"Nevertheless, he has always been a super important contender. In the races, but also outside of them. Then you have to think about how we deal with each other in our team, what we find essential in our organization ... those things Robert has always radiated."

"Those are umbrella terms, but something always happens when Robert is with us. And something also happens when he says something so you can give him that label."

"Robert says pretty much on the bus. When those young guys start finding out who he has cycled with, experienced in the meantime, and won yet, it goes without saying that everyone is silent for a moment and listens carefully to what he says. He has also grown much more in that role in recent years, transferring his knowledge and giving his opinion. In that way, he has managed to make the team better."

"I succeeded Louis, Robert's previous trainer, as Head of Performance and took over Robert's training a little later. Training him was easy; that was particularly working towards the big moments. In terms of bonding and relationships, you then talk a lot more about conversations about the team and how we can move forward together. We'll miss him, but it's a nice moment to retire for him."

"You don't bring in a frontrunner like Robert; that's obvious. But sometimes, riders from whom you don't expect it suddenly roll into such a role. That is a natural progression; new riders will rise again."

"We are working very proactively on replacing Merijn. With the new management, we have already had a lot of conversations about the future, so we are really aware of that as a group."