Kelderman takes historic win after 4,022 days to become Dutch Champion

Wilco Kelderman finally knows what it feels like to throw his arms in the air again. Crossing the finish line to claim the Dutch national road race title, the veteran rider ended one of the longest winning droughts in the professional peloton and claimed his first road race win. 

When asked how it felt to cross the line victorious, he looked completely relieved: "Lovely. It feels like it was a long time ago. A promise, I think. I once won a time trial, but not in that way. It had to happen," Kelderman told NOS.

The sheer disbelief was obvious as he crossed the line solo, soaking in the realisation that the red, white, and blue jersey was finally his. "I can hardly believe it," he said right after the finish. "In the last lap I thought I would be taken back. But in the end I stayed in front. It's hard to realise." 

Taking the national colours is the ultimate reward for a rider who has spent well over a decade grafting at the absolute highest level of the sport. It is genuinely brilliant to see a rider of his pedigree finally get the ultimate reward for his perseverance. 

The way Kelderman won the race was just as impressive as the victory itself. He did not rely on a team train or wait for a chaotic bunch sprint; he simply took the race by the scruff of the neck and rode the final 27 kilometres entirely alone. Kelderman admitted the long solo effort was not his initial plan. "I didn't really want to go that early," he explained. "But I noticed very quickly that the race was hard to control from behind." 

With the peloton struggling to contain the constant attacks, he realised cooperation was completely breaking down. "In the beginning there was a group coming back. Then there was another group coming back. Then I thought, this is not going to work together. So I tried to be in front again." His winning move came when he finally dropped Tim Marsman. 

Kelderman was humble about whether he was truly the strongest guy out there, insisting that reading the course was where the real difference was made. "You just have to be smart in the race and be in front," he noted. "You can make the difference in the climbs. But if you ride well in the intermediate part, then you make the difference."

Fans hoping to see that beautiful new Dutch champion jersey flashing at the front of the peloton during the Tour de France are going to be disappointed. 

Kelderman firmly shut down any speculation about a last-minute call-up for July, making it clear that his racing programme has been set for quite a while. 

"I know from the beginning of the season that I don't ride," he said. "There are other goals." His season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, having been forced to abandon his original Giro d'Italia plans early on before pivoting to a tough block of racing at the Tour de Suisse. "Normally I should have been the Giro. Then I had to drop out in the beginning... I didn't have a great preparation. But I gave it my all. Then you realise that you can do a lot mentally." 

Instead of heading to France, Kelderman will take his time to soak in this massive achievement and reset for the second half of the calendar. He confirmed exactly when fans will see the jersey in action next: "I think the Tour of Poland will be the first. That will be a very special moment."