surprise
The fact that Equipo Kern Pharma received a Vuelta wildcard nevertheless caused some surprise. The Spanish team had already secretly taken into account that it would not go to them, but to Caja Rural-Seguros RGA – which has some refined riders – but they fell by the wayside. That is how the anticipation started for Van der Tuuk. “Shortly afterwards I already received apps from people around me. The Vuelta is a really big round and the chance to participate in such a round is now closer than ever for me,” it sounds.
Van der Tuuk, who exchanged Metec-TKH last year for his current Spanish team to gain more experience as a climber, says he is enjoying himself at Equipo Kern Pharma. “The switch was a big one for me, but I was able to develop as an all-round rider in an assisting role. I have already completed several Spanish lessons and can follow and speak the language better and better,” says Van der Tuuk.
flying hours
Although his team operates from Pamplona in northern Spain, the Assenaar still lives in Assen, from where he constantly travels after his team. “Yes, I live from trip to trip and from course to course,” laughs Van der Tuuk. “Last Sunday I rode the Ronde van Drenthe, next weekend I will ride a race in France and I will fly back on Monday, and the following Friday I will ride in Italy”, he sums up.
Thus, the young rider not only makes figurative flying hours as a cyclist, but also literally makes the necessary flying hours. “Last year alone I was on 56 flights to a total of thirteen different countries,” laughs Van der Tuuk. “Yes, even in corona time. That was not always fun,” he adds. But the Assenaar will not be thwarted by it. He has something to look forward to with the Vuelta ahead. “And because the start is in the Netherlands, you naturally want to show even more, especially if there are acquaintances along the course. Yes, I am confident that I will be there.”