“Still, I can only look back with immense pride at 14 unforgettable years competing at the highest level. I’ve raced against and alongside the best riders in the world,” he adds. “I’ve lived my dream, and I’m deeply grateful for every moment of it.”
“Merci mateke”: tributes pour in from across the pelotonWithin minutes of posting his farewell, the comments section filled with tributes from some of the biggest names in Belgian cycling. Wout van Aert was among the first to reply — “Thanks, mate.” Remco Evenepoel added, “Congratulations on your career, Tosj.”Former teammates and fellow countrymen Dylan van Baarle, Greg van Avermaet, Olav Kooij and Tim Wellens were also quick to salute the popular domestique. Van Baarle wrote: “Thanks, mate! You can be proud of an amazing career — it was a pleasure to race with you.” Van Avermaet called it “a beautiful career — never stop believing,” while Kooij thanked him “for everything — something to be proud of, mate.”
Tim Wellens, Van der Sande’s long-time friend and former Lotto teammate, added a simple but heartfelt line: “Out of sight, but never out of heart.”
Wellens and Van der Sande were teammates during their Lotto days
From Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 to Visma road captain
Van der Sande’s story is one of consistency, selflessness and quiet quality rather than headline-grabbing victories. A former track and U23 standout — winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège U23 in 2011 — he turned professional the following year with Lotto-Belisol, remaining loyal to the Belgian squad for a full decade.
During that time, he built a reputation as a fast finisher and reliable worker, claiming podiums at Paris–Tours (2nd, 2015), the Grand Prix Impanis-Van Petegem (2nd, 2014), and stages in the Tour de l’Ain and Tour de Wallonie, where he was twice runner-up overall.
In 2022, Van der Sande joined Jumbo-Visma (now Visma | Lease a Bike), fitting seamlessly into the team’s powerhouse classics and sprint trains. His experience proved invaluable in guiding younger riders such as Olav Kooij, and he remained a trusted presence in the peloton — a calm, unflappable voice in some of cycling’s most intense races.
“Cycling is not just about data”
His farewell message closed with a line that resonated deeply within the sport’s data-driven modern era: “One last message to the next generation of cyclists: live for your sport, but don’t forget to live beyond it. Don’t get lost in the numbers, the watts, or the bike computer. Cycling is not just about data; it’s about instinct, courage, and the love of the ride.”
Those words perfectly capture the ethos that defined Van der Sande’s career — not one built on algorithms or aero gains, but on loyalty, craft, and the simple joy of racing.
As Team Visma | Lease a Bike continues to evolve into a super-team of champions, Van der Sande’s departure marks the end of an era for one of the peloton’s true unsung heroes — a rider whose value was never measured purely in victories, but in trust, teamwork and professionalism.
“See you down the road,” he signed off. A fitting farewell for a man who gave everything to the sport — and earned universal respect in return.