There are not too many riders who can say that they have been in the team with both Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. Since this year, however, Timo Kielich has joined this list of privileged riders.
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A unique fact
Because that is how Kielich made the switch from Alpecin-Premier Tech to Visma-Lease a Bike. He also calls it ‘unique’ at Sporza that he has now driven with both Van Aert and Van der Poel in the same team. He is also looking forward to this new phase in his career.
“I had several options, but Visma-Lease a Bike was the best choice for my development. Their approach allows me to become an even better rider,” Kielich is convinced of his decision. In the meantime, there is already a click with Van Aert.
“Because I moved to Olen, my contact with Wout has increased. And since I joined Visma-Lease a Bike, we have already trained together several times.” We could indeed see this several times on Strava, where Van Aert invariably drops his achievements.
Win together
Kielich can be clear about his role at Visma. In many cases – read: high prices – this will also be supportive. Although, according to him, this fact is significantly different than with Alpecin. “Because first and foremost we ride to win the race together. It doesn’t necessarily matter with whom.”
“That ‘winning together’ (the slogan of Visma-Lease a Bike, ed.) was perhaps less the case with my previous team,” says Kielich, who also points out the biggest difference with Van der Poel. “The racing was in a similar manner, but Mathieu was the leader and therefore there was perhaps slightly less space for the other riders,” he concludes.
