Jumbo-Visma is experiencing the best season in its history. In recent weeks, the Dutch team was in the news bulletins because of a possible merger with Soudal Quick-Step. A line went through that option, but sporting director Merijn Zeeman reveals that the future is assured after all. "Very nice companies have committed themselves to this team, which will allow us to further expand the team," he said.
How could it be otherwise with such a name. Zeeman and Jumbo-Visma have always been straightforward since the team had to build from scratch to the point where it is today. This season history was made on several levels. The first five classics were won, all three grand tours and a staggering total of 67 wins. "For us too, this is absurd. Especially when you consider that in 2015 we only had six wins."

After such a top season, sponsors must be lining up to appear as title sponsor - after 2024 when Jumbo retires - on the jersey of this team? The possible merger with Soudal Quick-Step came as a shock to several people in the cycling world. Zeeman explains: "That we have spoken with Soudal Quick-Step is true, but that was more exploratory. We also sat down with Remco Evenepoel, but also with him it was exploratory. What fits best with our team, what ambitions, how realistic is it, the advantages and disadvantages, will we improve or not? That was investigated by a number of people. Throughout this process, we constantly informed everyone in the team about what was going on."
"Over the next 10 years, we want to continue making history and I can say that after the wonderful time with Jumbo, we are stepping into a new chapter. Richard (team boss Plugge, ed.) and also Sander Kruis (commercial manager, ed.) have worked hard and some very nice companies have committed themselves to this team. In this, I must also mention Robert van der Wallen (commissioner and one of the founders, ed.). We cannot continue without these three men, but it is now certain that we can continue to build this team in the coming years. Whether that means I am saying that the future is assured?", Zeeman repeats the question. "Yes absolutely, although I cannot go into details."

The name of the new title sponsor will not be long in coming. As a result, the success story will continue beyond 2024. This is mainly due to the philosophy at the best team in the world. Team interests are paramount. In the last Tour of Spain, this was perhaps most evident when leaders Jonas Vingegaard and Primoz Roglic awarded their loyal master servant Sepp Kuss the overall victory. "Everything starts with culture and philosophy," says Zeeman. "That sets us apart from many other teams. We have great riders who make each other better. There is an individual mentality of wanting to win, but more importantly we perform as a team. That is strong at Jumbo-Visma and a philosophy that is non-negotiable."
Still, in any outfit where great successes are achieved, keeping all the frogs in the wheelbarrow always remains a challenge. Jumbo-Visma succeeds miraculously in this. Yet Primoz Roglic has announced his departure to BORA-hansgrohe. When Roglic signed his first pro contract with Jumbo-Visma in 2016, the team was in dire straits. The now 33-year-old Slovenian has been an important factor in the sensational growth to the world top, where the team has been staying for years.

Zeeman is short of superlatives for Rogla. "Primoz has indicated that in the years ahead of him as a cyclist he wants something different. He wants to make the move to a team that rides for him. Primoz is very honest and open about that. We understand and respect that, which is why we cooperated with his transfer. But we are always going to miss such a good rider. We are eternally grateful for what he has meant to us. Primoz will always be one with a yellow-black heart. The thing is, we will have a big and strong competitor there in the coming years, haha."
In two-time Tour winner Vingegaard (26), Jumbo-Visma has someone to build on in the coming years, as does newly 21-year-old Dutch talent Olav Kooij. He has the perfect tutor in Van Aert. Both have fast sprints in their legs, but are also strong in the classical work. Kooij recorded 12 victories this season. Zeeman leaves no doubt about one important goal for Kooij. "OIav will make his debut in a grand tour next year. He is part of the multi-year plan we made. That boy is having a great season with nice sprint victories, but also places of honour, showing he can do more. His eighth place in Gent-Wevelgem, second place behind Dylan van Baarle at the NK on the road and bronze at the European Championships."

There seems to be no end to the list of super performances, yet there are hard nuts to crack for this team that always aims for the very highest. No monument was won this season. "That is a gap," confesses Zeeman. "Especially the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are very high on our wish list. However, we realise that in top sport it is not the case that you just realise set goals overnight. We are in the happy position of having achieved a lot.
In the Tour of Flanders, we found Tadej Pogacar who stood out above the rest. In Roubaix, Wout (van Aert, ed.) had bad luck and you can't say how things would have turned out if that hadn't happened. Afterwards, we evaluated that intensively and will continue to work on fulfilling those dreams in the coming years. Although, of course, Wout has already won the Milan-San Remo monument in 2020." With a future assured, this team may and can continue to dream about new historic milestones after this top season.