It’s always a good day when Jan-Willem van Schip makes an appearance. The breakaway specialist, famous for his wild aero tech choices and “indecent” gestures to track cycling officials, was on the attack at his home race yesterday, the Tour of Holland, as the entire cycling world collectively lost its mind at his latest aero creation.
Down the outside, off the grass, and onto the attack! 🚀
Jan-Willem van Schip launches a breakaway attempt at the Tour of Holland! pic.twitter.com/a3y8ntn5zc
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 15, 2025
Wielerflits journalist Julian Dubbeld was on the ground to snap the all-important side-on photo of the set-up, complete with possibly the most ridiculous stem you’ve ever seen and that seatpost.
Jan-Willem van Schip uit NIBC Tour of Holland gezet vanwege ‘fiets die afwijkt van UCI-regels’
Het zou gaan om zijn zadelpen. Zo zag deze er drie weken geleden uit bij Arno Wallaard Memorial pic.twitter.com/iOFOZEri5J
— Julian Dubbeld (@Julian_Dubbeld) October 15, 2025
Van Schip has got form for this sort of thing. UCI commissaires regularly wake up in a cold sweat mumbling incoherently about handlebar widths after working at races he competed at. Back in 2021 he was thrown off the Baloise Belgium Tour for using these…
That was actually a subsequent DQ from the chiefs at the UCI, not the commissaires on the ground at the race — and history repeated itself at the Tour of Holland. Van Schip was disqualified from the race last night, the UCI stepping in and ruling his seatpost “does not meet the requirements”.
Ryan will have more on this shortly, Van Schip’s Parkhotel Valkenburg team manager Paul Tabak making some very interesting comments about the whole situation and confirming it was the chiefs at UCI HQ, not the commissaires on the ground, who took issue with the seatpost.
As I said, more to come on that this morning, but Tabak isn’t optimistic… “Ultimately, I think we won’t win and Jan-Willem is simply out of the race. We’ll see.”
One we’ll keep an eye on as the morning develops and the start of stage two nears. That’s a TT so god knows what Van Schip will roll down the startline on for that if the team is successful in its appeal. Something a certain Graeme Obree would be proud of, perhaps.
Thankfully there was no repeat of the 2024 Track World Championships where Van Schip was banned for a month over “indecent” behaviour, including swearing and showing officials the middle finger following his disqualification for a “dangerous” close pass during a track race.
Naturally, cycling fans watching on and commenting online loved Van Schip’s whacky aero rig at the Tour of Holland. Pissing off the UCI is a sure-fire way to win some support, but the Dutch breakaway specialist’s maverick approach to racing a bike has earned him a cult following too.
The video of his Tour of Holland attack has been widely shared online, racking up the likes and views. One fan’s caption said: “Not a single year passes without Jan-Willem van Schip taking the piss out of the UCI rules LOL. What a legend.
“Apparently it was the seatpost (no, it’s not broken) that broke the UCI rules, not that huge stem. Anyway, respect for trying. What a beauty! I’ll give this guy a contract just to come with new ways to avoid the rules.”
Another joked: “What a horrible looking bike, love it.”
That bike belongs in a museum
— jeff (@TrackandCycling) October 15, 2025
“I really appreciate him for being different. Fantastic rider.”
Van Schip on this bike is like: pic.twitter.com/f8RyeUUgMN
— GrandMa Johnson (@OldLadyLarry) October 15, 2025