The name Robert Gesink is a household name in the Netherlands among followers of cycling. When my interest in cycling was aroused, Gesink was already riding around as a promising Dutch tour rider and after the most recent Vuelta his beautiful professional career ended after 18 years. It is striking that Gesink has always ridden for the Dutch cycling team Visma – Lease a Bike – and its predecessors. And from that team he receives a beautiful Cervélo S5 as a surprise, with an ode to his career on it.
Long career with many highs and lows
Gesink’s career is known to most of us, I think. His professional career with Team Rabobank resulted in several top ten positions in major tours. He also has victories in the Vuelta, Giro dell’Emilia, GP de Montreal and GP Quebec, among others, on his list of achievements. In recent years, Gesink has fulfilled the role of domestique with flying colours, and played an important role in several victories in major tours. His career was unfortunately also marked by injuries, bad luck and heart problems.
Just before the start of the Vuelta, Gesink was surprised with his special Cervélo S5. In the presence of the riders and staff, he receives the racer from Richard Plugge, the team boss. Where the Cervélos of Team Visma – Lease a Bike are normally black and yellow, Gesink’s special edition has a dark blue metallic color.
Ode to predecessors Visma – Lease a Bike
The Cervélo brand name is in white decals on the down tube and the most beautiful thing about the design is the top of the top tube. The colours of Visma’s predecessors – Lease a Bike, such as Rabobank, Blanco, Belkin and Jumbo – are on that top tube. His name and the length of his professional career – 18 years – are also on the top tube. The result is a cool racer, which is a lot nicer than the standard bikes of the team if you ask me. Furthermore, the Cervélo S5 has the same finish as that of the rest of the team. We see the latest Sram Red groupset, Reserve wheels and Vittoria tyres.
Special outfit for Visma – Lease a Bike
By the way, Gesink not only got a new road bike, his time trial bike also got the same design. Furthermore, Team Visma – Lease a Bike rode around in a modified outfit during the Vuelta, with a picture of Gesink with the text: Forever off-season. Honoring a legacy. A beautiful and very deserved tribute if you ask me, and I think the bike and the shirt will get a beautiful place in the Gesink household. Or maybe he will continue to ride it during his forever off-season.
More info via Cervélo in Team Visma – Lease a Bike.
