Born and raised in Goes, Zeeland, cycling was always part of Timo’s life. “My grandfather was a cyclist, my uncle too, and my dad was a directeur sportif,” he says with a smile. “So it was already a little bit in the family.”
Even so, Timo’s first sporting steps weren’t on two wheels. “I started with football,” he recalls. “But after a while I wanted to have a race bike, so my parents bought me one when I was nine – and then it all started.” Riding alongside his grandfather created some of his earliest and fondest cycling memories, and within a few years he had to make a decision between the ball and the bike. “In the first year I tried to do both,” he laughs, “but it wasn’t possible anymore, so I chose cycling – and I’m happy I did.”
From there, progress came naturally. As a junior he won the Tour of Flanders U19, showing an early flair for tough, tactical one-day races. His transition into the under-23 ranks came just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit – “we didn’t have that many races that year or the next,” he explains – but instead of giving up, he used the time to keep working and believing. “I stayed motivated, and the people around me kept believing in me too. That was a big motivation to keep going for it.”
Over the next few seasons Timo established himself in the Dutch scene with consistent results, culminating in a standout 2025 campaign that brought him victories in the Holland Cup, a stage and second overall in Olympia’s Tour, and a career-defining win in the NIBC Tour of Holland. “Getting my first pro win and then signing my first pro contract – those are moments you’ll never forget.”
Describing himself as “calm, relaxed, motivated and disciplined,” Timo admits he’s someone who likes to be on time – “usually fifteen minutes early,” he jokes – and that same meticulous mindset carries into his racing. “Every year I saw myself growing, making small steps forward. When you see that progress, you keep going and don’t give up.”
A self-professed classics-style rider with a fast finish, Timo enjoys the challenge of hard one-day races and hectic sprints. “Those are the kind of races I really like to do,” he says. “When you love something, you’re also more motivated to do it well.”
Looking ahead to his first full WorldTour seasons with Team Picnic PostNL, he’s eager to make more progress. “Now it gets more serious – with the nutrition, the experts, the races. Working with all the staff and riding at a higher level, I think I can make more steps. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Away from the bike Timo enjoys spending his time chilling with friends or gaming a bit, just to take his mind off of things; with some 80s or Dutch music blaring in the background.