“It was really fantastic”, Eenkhoorn says with a smile. “It is a challenging race to win with Team Jumbo-Visma. Since we are the biggest team, everyone has high expectations for us. It’s cool because we managed to win again after winning with Timo Roosen a year earlier.”

Before the race, the media hailed Eenkhoorn as the clear favourite. The cyclist claimed that wasn’t a problem for him. “Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I’m not easily impressed. Additionally, I didn’t feel under additional stress or like I was the leader of our team. I knew that the course suited me very well. In the end, it just all worked out perfectly.”

Eenkhoorn and Daan Hoole were in the lead in the final kilometres. They knew they would determine who would leave with the coveted jersey. “On the way, I already felt that I was stronger. He made me do longer turns. I knew I would win as I went up the Col du VAM for the final time and went straight over it.”

The rest is history. Eenkoorn’s red-white-blue jersey was hung around his shoulders as the national anthem sounded for him. “I had the jersey and the medal framed, and they will have a very nice place in my house. The Dutch championship is the biggest win of my career so far. I will never forget this”, the 27-year-old rider said.

“I had a good time with the team. At training camps and in multi-day races, it was always a lot of fun, in addition to performing. Team Jumbo-Visma really is a family team. I reflect on a very nice period”, Eenkhoorn concludes.

Take a look below at the twenty most beautiful photos of Pascal during his time at Team Jumbo-Visma!