The talented Belgian joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development in 2025, having only two years of experience as a road rider at that point. With second-place finishes in the prologues of the Giro Next Gen and the Istrian Spring Trophy, as well as at the European and Belgian time trial championships, he immediately demonstrated his specialisation in the race against the clock. “Above all, he showed that he has handled the transition from juniors to U23s very well,” says Head of Development Robbert de Groot. “Despite his limited experience as a road rider, he has made major progress in a very short period of time. Physically, but also in terms of personal and tactical development. He adapts easily to a higher level.”

With a sixth place in La Flèche Ardennaise, a fifth place in the Giro del Belvedere and a tenth place in Gent–Wevelgem U23, Van Kerckhove proved himself to be a versatile rider. He also showed he can hold his own at WorldTeam level in races such as the Deutschland Tour and the Tour de Slovaquie. “That he will make the definitive step up to the WorldTeam in 2027 was, in fact, inevitable,” De Groot continues. “His time trials and the way he has performed across races at all levels show that he needs to move up in order to continue developing.”

In the coming season, Van Kerckhove will still have several goals within the U23 category, but he will also regularly race with the WorldTeam. The young Belgian is looking ahead with enthusiasm to the upcoming season and the years to follow: “I am extremely motivated and proud to make the step from the Development Team to the WorldTeam. The Matisse of five years ago would never have imagined standing here today, so I can only be proud of myself. I really look forward to testing myself at the highest level and continuing to grow.”

The initial focus will be on talent development in the broadest sense of the word. Van Kerckhove explains: “I want to develop into a strong classics rider who can also play an important role in time trials. Someone who can be valuable to the team in tough races and time trials, and who learns step by step how to perform consistently at WorldTour level. Team Visma | Lease a Bike is the ideal environment for me to do that. Over the past year, I’ve experienced how strong the focus is on preparation and development. That way of working suits me perfectly.”