Tim van Dijke makes early switch to main squad Team Jumbo-Visma
Tim van Dijke will become a professional cyclist at Team Jumbo-Visma as of January 1. The Dutch U23 champion would initially be riding for the Jumbo-Visma Development Team next year before transferring to the World Tour team. Due to the departure of Dylan Groenewegen and the rapid development of Van Dijke, he will already become a rider of the main force of the Dutch team in 2022. Van Dijke recorded his first professional victory in the Cro Race at the end of last season.
The 21-year-old U23 rider has a good feeling about his early transfer. “Of course I was already proud and happy that I would be part of the World Tour team in 2023 and 2024, but it is great that I am now switching a year early. I expect to gain a lot of new experiences from which I will learn a lot. Last season was already one with good learning moments, and it won’t be different next year. At times I will, of course, have a hard time, but that will help my development. It feels good to take a step up again. In addition, it is nice that my brother Mick and I switch to the World Tour formation more or less at the same time.”
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For sportive director Merijn Zeeman, bringing forward Van Dijke’s switch fits within the philosophy of Team Jumbo-Visma. “At Team Jumbo-Visma, there is no hard line between the World Tour team and the development team. Each rider gets a personal program that suits him the best. Tim is developing at lightning speed. That's why we think he needs a challenging program, alternating races between the World Tour team and the development team. Next year, the development team will still guide Tim, but he will also take his first steps in the World Tour.”
