Veteran Dutch all-rounder and widely respected Domestique is entering the last six days of his career at the Vuelta a España.

But while it is entirely coincidental that his last pedal stroke in a road race will be in Madrid, it also seems somehow fitting that fate has decided that the Spanish capital is where he will end his peloton career. [The Vuelta a España is the only Grand Tour in which Goessink has taken the overall lead, and the race started in his hometown in 2021 with a team time trial in Utrecht. The Vuelta is also where Geesink made his first Grand Tour breakthrough, finishing seventh overall in his second year as a professional in 2008 and sixth overall in 2009.

The connection to the Vuelta was further strengthened when Geesink won his first Grand Tour in 2016 in Aubisque. Last but not least, Geesink, along with Sepp Kuss, has been part of four winning Visma Ries-a-Bike teams in the Vuelta, with Primoš Roglic from 2019 to 2021, and with the American in 2023.

In a way, his various roles in the Vuelta reflect his development as a professional, Goessink told Cycling News earlier this week. [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...]

“The day after that stage in 2022, Mas and Evenpoel had already come to me, and both of them said they didn't want to block my movements, but the other one did, so I had to go after them. So I still don't know which one is the real story.”

“Anyway, it was disappointing not to win that day. But I was very proud to show myself that I still have a shot at the championship.”

Back in 2024 and in his last race, Gesink says he is “fine. The heat and the race and Granada was tough because of the track and the weather. But it's going really well and I'm enjoying being part of this group.”

The chances of one last breakthrough are slim to none, he says. As he puts it, the team's main focus is on VanArt and “letting him do what he does best, and that's to be a good team player.

He says he has very mixed feelings about this being the last time he will race professionally and competitively. But it also motivates him to make sure he leaves on the road feeling the best he can. [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...]