Coach Tim Heemskerk on Leaving Visma | Lease a Bike: "Too Little Room for Creativity and Passion"

The decision of successful coach Tim Heemskerk to leave Visma | Lease a Bike has sparked a variety of reactions in the cycling world. On social media, the longtime coach of Jonas Vingegaard and others elaborated on his departure. "There was too little room for creativity and passion in my daily work," Heemskerk explains.

"After eight wonderful years with our team, I have, with a heavy yellow-and-black heart, decided to stop being a trainer and coach," Heemskerk begins his story on Instagram. "In the last two or three months, there was too little room for creativity and passion in my daily work. That is precisely why now is the time to step down."

Here, Heemskerk seems to pinpoint the core of his decision. He felt he did not have enough freedom in his working methods. "I have chosen to make space now to recharge my batteries. Sport and cycling remain my passion and my life. Thank you for everything we have experienced together," he says to everyone involved with Visma | Lease a Bike.

Heemskerk was an important figure within the Dutch team for eight years, several of which it was the best team in the world. "The last years were full of highlights, with the crowning achievements in 2022 and 2023, and unfortunately also some low points. They were breakthroughs and challenges that shaped us all. That has allowed me to grow enormously as a coach and as a person. I take those lessons with me."

On behalf of Visma | Lease a Bike, Head of Performance Mathieu Heijboer responded to Heemskerk's departure at the start of the new cycling season. "He has played a major role in developing the training philosophy we use in our team and in achieving the sporting results," he said. According to Cyclingflash.com information, Heijboer will also become Jonas Vingegaard’s new coach.