Rick Pluimers steps up: "The goal is to become one of the leaders at Tudor"

Rick Pluimers experienced a week of extremes. First, he caused the crucial moment in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with his crash on the Molenberg, in which he broke his front teeth. Two days later, he extended his expiring contract with Tudor Pro Cycling. A show of confidence that he hopes to repay this spring – earlier than expected. He told WielerFlits.

We speak with Pluimers just as he steps out of his own dentist’s office, at home in Enter, Overijssel. So far, so good. Because his left front tooth was split vertically upwards, it remains uncertain whether that tooth will still die off. Only time will tell. Otherwise, all signals are green to resume training, as he says he can ride well despite his bruised hand. Due to the crash on his head in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, he was prudently kept out of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Next week he will race Paris-Nice.

Much confidence despite crash
The 25-year-old Pluimers is left somewhat unsatisfied due to his fall on the Molenberg. “I felt like I hadn’t even started to suffer until that point. That’s always a good experience, especially when you consider what a battlefield it was up to then. At the bottom of the Molenberg, I felt that the gap that opened on Florian Vermeersch was one I could close. Of course, there’s always the question of what would have happened next. Due to my crash, he and Mathieu van der Poel ended up two up. While Mathieu wasn’t really planning to make a strong move just yet.”

Strange as it may sound: despite his tumble, broken teeth, and missing Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Pluimers has gained a lot of confidence from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. “If I look at how it went last year in that race, I do think there could have been something great in store. But ‘if’ doesn’t count in sport. My performance gives me a lot of confidence. When you’re on the Molenberg, that’s a good sign. At the moment of the crash I immediately thought: damn, this is a missed opportunity. You only think that if you feel strong yourself, not if you’re at your limit. My legs are good, at least for now.”

Leader after Küng’s absence
One man’s loss is another’s gain. New team leader Stefan Küng broke his thigh in a crash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. This instantly moves Pluimers up in the hierarchy at Fabian Cancellara’s team. “Stefan’s absence is really unfortunate. He shows every spring what he’s worth. Matteo Trentin and I are fairly similar riders. With Küng, we had someone who could do things differently. Tactically, that gave our team more options. It’s just really a shame that tactic has now been dealt a blow.”

“I was shadow leader in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad,” he continues. “So it’s an easy calculation that if Küng drops out, you move up for the upcoming races. But I’d rather not look at it that way. I get along well with Stefan. I was especially looking forward to racing alongside him this spring. That’s what I find most disappointing.” After Paris-Nice, the young rider will race Milan-San Remo, the E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders, and the Amstel Gold Race (for the first time). “The last one has to just fit within my abilities.”

Trentin’s successor
Looking ahead to the future in the spring classics, Tudor Pro Cycling was keen to continue with Pluimers. His expiring contract was extended by no less than three years, until the end of 2029. “If you consider the huge growth I’ve experienced here over the last three years, that’s very positive. I feel this is a place where I can develop myself, where I also get trust and can go for results. The team also radiates that to me. I feel comfortable here, and we take a step forward every year. Also looking at the development still to come, for me, this is the best.”

With Küng and Trentin both (or almost) reaching the age to be considered veterans in the Flemish races, Pluimers is expected to eventually succeed the Italian. “For me, it’s great to grow now in Matteo’s shadow in the classics. I can race my own race, and when it comes down to tactical play, we have two pieces on the board with Trentin and myself. For me, this is a very natural way to grow, and the pressure isn’t immediately too high. I really appreciate that. For the future, the idea is that I become a team leader for Tudor Pro Cycling in the classics.”

Onward to the Tour?
Still, due to circumstances, that could happen for Pluimers this season already. “The goal for this spring is simple: what I showed on the Molenberg in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. That I can be there at the important moments in a race and hold on, that I can show that consistently. If I can achieve a top-10 in the E3 Saxo Classic, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, or the Tour of Flanders with that, that’s very impressive. Then my spring would be successful. Of course, the closer to victory, the better. But let me first achieve that.”

He is also looking forward immensely to his debut in Amstel for the home crowd in mid-April. After that, the possibility might open up for Pluimers to ride the Tour de France this coming summer. “I’ll have to wait and see how the spring goes. My name is on the long list, but a lot can still change by then. Last year, the combination of the classics with the Giro d’Italia was difficult.” And so life smiles at Pluimers despite that unfortunate crash on the Molenberg. Who knows, he might join Küng, Trentin, Michael Storer, and Julian Alaphilippe in France next summer.