Antwan Tolhoek about leaving Jumbo-Visma: “A difficult decision”

Antwan Tolhoek about leaving Jumbo-Visma: “A difficult decision”

Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 11:32 am

The fact that Antwan Tolhoek will be playing for Trek-Segafredo from next season could already be read on WielerFlits at the beginning of June. He signs there for two years. Now the 27-year-old Zeeuw has responded to his transfer through his new team. “I’m looking forward to riding Grand Tours again and competing for stage wins.”

Tolhoek is leaving Jumbo-Visma after five seasons and that is difficult for the climber. “It was a difficult decision to leave my current team, as I started my professional career there. But when a team like Trek-Segafredo comes around the corner and presents you with a contract that gives you the chance to drive more on your own account in the bigger races, then you should not hesitate and seize the opportunity.”

The Dutchman goes for success in one of the three big rounds. “Some experienced riders within the team have already shown that they have a chance to join the breakaway in order to have a shot at a stage win. I hope that in the next two years I can realize my dream within Trek-Segafredo,” said Tolhoek, who has one professional victory to his name for the time being. In 2019 he won a mountain stage in the Tour de Suisse.

At the American formation, the Dutchman meets compatriot Bauke Mollema. For Tolhoek it also means a reunion with sports director Steven de Jongh. Tolhoek (then rider of Rabobank Development Team) came out in the autumn of 2015 as an intern at Tinkoff-Saxo, where the former sprinter was then also in the team manager’s car. After a year at Roompot-Oranje Peloton, Tolhoek made the switch in 2017 to what was then still called LottoNL-Jumbo.

Tolhoek booked his first and only professional victory in 2019 on the Flumserberg – photo: Cor Vos

Rittenkaper
De Jongh is looking forward to a renewed collaboration with Tolhoek. “Antwan is a very neat and friendly boy, but at the same time he also has an enormous urge to race. He likes to drive offensively and participate in breakaways. We searched for ride hijackers and I think Antwan fits the profile. He can play an important role in mountain stages and shorter stage races, just like in the Ardennes classics.”

“We hope he is able to win a week-long stage race with us. In the Grand Tours he can fill the ‘Kenny Elissonde role’. Antwan is an incredibly talented climber.”