The roster of Visma | Lease a Bike underwent quite a few changes this winter. Nine riders left the team, and eight new riders joined. In the Beehive Podcast, the Dutch WorldTeam’s podcast, Head of Racing Grischa Niermann explains the transfer strategy.
One of the most significant departures from Visma | Lease a Bike is undoubtedly Olav Kooij, who will race for Decathlon CMA CGM starting in 2026. "We already knew it would be difficult to keep Olav Kooij because we knew he wanted to go to the Tour de France—with a sprint train, as the designated sprinter. While we also already have Jonas, who is capable of winning the GC. That’s a complicated combination. Impossible? Probably not, but for us it was complex to give Olav what he rightfully wants."
New Generation
For some riders, Visma | Lease a Bike already knew it would be tough to extend their contracts, including Kooij. But the team also made a conscious decision to ‘give the new generation a bigger chance,’ according to Niermann. "A few older riders have left the team and were replaced by young guys coming up from the development squad. That’s also how we operate and want to operate."
"Of course, we thought about how to improve the team. In 2024, and unfortunately also in 2025, crashes and injuries were a factor. That’s why we looked for riders who, at least in their recent history, have been consistent throughout the year, with a good number of race days each season and not constantly sidelined by illness or injury. That was also one of the criteria we considered."
Talent, Experience, and a Sprint Lead-Out
Niermann continues by highlighting additional traits and qualities considered during selection. "We searched, for example, for talents like Davide Piganzoli. We looked for riders who bring experience to the team at certain moments, like Owain Doull or Bruno Armirail. We sought guys who can support Matthew (Brennan, ed.). We believe he is probably already one of the fastest sprinters in the world, especially in tough races, when the sprint goes uphill. We believe Filippo Fiorelli can play an important role there."
