After eight years of intensive collaboration, performance coach Tim Heemskerk and Team Visma | Lease a Bike are parting ways. As the Dutch World Tour team announced, the long-time performance coach is leaving the team with immediate effect. Heemskerk was part of the performance staff under the direction of Mathieu Heijboer and played a key role in the development of the team's training philosophy and numerous sporting successes. In his farewell statement, Heemskerk emphasised the personal reasons for his decision: "In recent times, I have realised that it was difficult for me to continue to contribute my creativity and passion, which are important to me in my work as a coach. This was the moment for me to be honest with myself and the team." The Dutchman looks back with pride on their time together and particularly emphasises the development of the team, himself and the riders, including Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, with whom he worked closely. Heemskerk announced that he would be taking some time out to think about his future. The riders who were previously under his supervision will be assigned to other performance coaches within the team.
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Another setback for Jonas Vingegaard
The surprising departure of the coach is not the first setback Jonas Vingegaard has had to cope with in 2026. Although a training crash had no serious consequences for the Dane, his team pointed out afterwards that fans should give the riders as much freedom as possible to train. Shortly after his crash, the top rider also fell ill. As a result, he had to withdraw his cancelled his planned start at the UAE Tour. Together with the short-term departure of performance coach Tim Heemskerk, the uncertainties surrounding his preparation are increasing early on in the season - not a particularly successful start to the year for the Tour de France winner, who now needs all the more stability in training, support and build-up in the coming weeks.
Leon Weidner
Working student
