Team Jumbo-Visma has had an impressive start to the season, winning the first two big classics of the year—Strade Bianche and Milano Sanremo—with Wout van Aert, before leaving a star-studded field gasping for breath at the Tour de L’Ain, where Primož Roglič and his mates beat Ineos’ A-team handily.

Heading into the Tour de France, the Dutch organisation looks as ready as it has ever been to win cycling’s greatest prize. The team, which can trace its roots back to 1984, has made astonishing progress in recent years.

When Rabobank pulled its sponsorship in 2012, it seemed likely that the squad would have to fold. The team raced on without a backer, before finding one in Belkin, which then reneged on its agreement. In 2015, Jumbo stepped in, along with the Dutch lottery for a time, and the organisation was given a new lease of life. 

They decided to aim for the very top. No longer would they be satisfied with top-ten finishes and being the best Dutch team. It would be a multi-year project, but they wanted to become the best bike-racing team in the world. From six wins in 2016 to 51 last year, their vision continues to be rewarded.