Alpecin–Deceuninck has established itself as one of the strongest teams in the peloton for the Spring Classics and sprint finishes. Built around global stars Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen, the Belgian squad has enjoyed enormous success—but its clearly defined hierarchy has also limited opportunities for some of its talented supporting riders.
One of them is Timo Kielich, who has left Alpecin–Deceuninck after three seasons to sign a three-year contract with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, seeking greater freedom and long-term development at WorldTour level.
“I was happy there, but after three years my contract was up and it was logical to see what other opportunities were out there,” Kielich said in an interview with Sporza. “For my development, this was the best choice. With their approach, I can still become a better rider.”
A proven Classics rider at WorldTour level
Now 26 years old, Kielich has completed two full seasons in the WorldTour and already boasts several notable results. Known as one of the peloton’s best bike handlers, the Belgian also has the physical capacity to perform in the biggest one-day races.
Earlier this season, he finished 18th at the Tour of Flanders, riding entirely in service of Mathieu van der Poel. While Kielich was occasionally given freedom—most notably when he won the 2023 Antwerp Port Epic—his role was always predetermined when Van der Poel was on the start list.
“We raced in a similar way to Visma | Lease a Bike, but Mathieu was the leader,” Kielich explained. “Because of that, there was maybe just a little less space for the other riders.”
As a result, team tactics were often centred on supporting the designated leader rather than riding for a collective outcome. In Kielich’s case, that frequently meant pacing duties instead of being allowed to attack.
“That ‘winning together’ feeling was maybe a bit less present at my former team,” he added. “Not because it was wrong, but because you always knew who the leader was. When you have Mathieu in your team, the hierarchy is clear.”
More collective focus at Team Visma | Lease a Bike
Kielich does not expect his role at Visma | Lease a Bike to be radically different, but he has already noticed a stronger emphasis on collective success rather than riding exclusively for one superstar. That philosophy is partly shaped by the Spring Classics landscape, where no single Visma rider can guarantee dominance comparable to Van der Poel.
Still, Kielich believes there will be more flexibility if form and race circumstances allow.
“My job is to bring the leaders into a good position at the crucial moments,” he said. “That way, we try to avoid them being forced onto the defensive. First and foremost, we race to win together. It doesn’t necessarily matter with whom.”
Spring Classics schedule alongside Wout van Aert
Kielich’s 2025 season will begin at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, after which he will largely follow the same programme as Wout van Aert. Key objectives include Tirreno–Adriatico, Milano–Sanremo, and the cobbled Classics, with Strade Bianche also on the calendar.
“I’ve never ridden that race before,” Kielich said of Strade Bianche. “On paper, it might be a bit too hard for my type of rider because of the climbing, but the gravel really appeals to me.”
Giro d’Italia role alongside Jonas Vingegaard
After the Spring Classics, Kielich is expected to return to the Giro d’Italia, where he will support Jonas Vingegaard on flat and hilly stages as part of Visma’s Grand Tour ambitions.
“I’ve never been in a situation where, as a team, we could win a Grand Tour,” Kielich concluded. “That’s going to be something special.”
At Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s media day, CyclingUpToDate confirmed that the Giro lineup is also expected to include Jonas Vingegaard, Sepp Kuss, Davide Piganzoli, Edoardo Affini, Bart Lemmen, Wilco Kelderman, and Victor Campenaerts.
Leave a Reply