In the final 25-kilometer time trial through the streets of Madrid, Edoardo Affini was the best-placed rider from the Dutch squad. The Italian set the fastest time early in the day but ultimately finished further down the rankings.

"A time trial after three tough weeks is always different," Affini said. "To be honest, I’m not entirely satisfied with my time. I went full with everything I had left in my legs. The last few weeks have been full gas every day, and that definitely takes a toll."

“It was a race with ups and downs,” summarized sports director Grischa Niermann, reflecting on the 2024 Vuelta. “With Wout, we won three stages, which is, of course, a fantastic result that any team would be more than happy with. We were on track to win the green and possibly even the KOM jersey. There were still several great opportunities for him in the final week, but unfortunately, his crash on Tuesday spoiled those plans.”

With defending champion Sepp Kuss, Team Visma | Lease a Bike also aimed for a strong GC result. “He didn’t quite have the level we had hoped for. Sepp was excellent on some stages but at other times wasn’t strong enough to follow the competition. Additionally, we lost Dylan van Baarle early on, and Cian Uijtdebroeks was also forced to withdraw from the Vuelta prematurely. Robert, Edoardo, Steven Kruijswijk, and Attila Valter rode a commendable race. As a team, we faced several setbacks, but we need to cherish the great moments we had with Wout.”

For Gesink, it’s a Vuelta he’ll never forget. The 38-year-old Dutchman rode with great joy during his final Grand Tour. “I’ve had an incredible time during these last three weeks. My coach confronted me with my numbers and stats last week, and they were excellent, even close to my best years. We won three beautiful stages with Wout and wore the red jersey for a few days,” Gesink reflected.

“I’ve genuinely enjoyed it,” Gesink continued. “Of course, I’ve known for a while that this would be my last year as a pro, so I’ve been able to savor every last time. The last training camp, the last Grand Tour. It feels like the perfect time to stop because, at times, I’ve had to push myself to the limit. Early in my career, I was driven by chasing results, but eventually, I transformed into a team player. That transformation makes me very proud. I’ve achieved some beautiful victories, secured some impressive results, and at the end of my career, I’ve helped the team win four Grand Tours. Now I’m going to enjoy my family, the free time, and cycling, continuing the healthy lifestyle I’ve adopted. It’s been a wonderful career, one I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

Take a look at the history page of Robert!