Visma | Lease a Bike extends contract with Femke de Vries

Femke de Vries will also race for Visma | Lease a Bike in the coming seasons. The 32-year-old Dutch rider had an expiring contract but has extended her deal until the end of 2028.

De Vries, who only discovered cycling in 2019 during her medical studies, has been riding for Visma | Lease a Bike since April 2024. She switched over from the continental team GT Krush Rebellease, where she had attracted attention with several top short classifications. She has since developed into one of the key climbers at Visma | Lease a Bike.

Last year, De Vries finished fifth in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina (2.1), second in the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche (2.1), and twentieth in the Tour de France Femmes. This spring she achieved her first podium in a WorldTour stage race, finishing third in the UAE Tour in February.

"When I turned pro, I initially thought, 'This is it, I have reached my goal.' But I realize how much more I can grow," De Vries said in a statement on the Visma | Lease a Bike website. "This is the best place for me to get the most out of myself because I receive the right support here and there is a lot of trust from the team."

In recent years, De Vries has gained more confidence in how to approach things, she says. "I have gotten to know myself better, I feel more aware of what I need, and I dare to base choices on that. Within the team, I speak up more easily, and I have truly found my place."

Closing the gap to the very best GC contenders
Rutger Tijssen, team manager of Visma | Lease a Bike’s women's squad, sees plenty of growth potential for De Vries. "This year she already showed she can climb with the best in races like the UAE Tour. Femke is developing in a calm and steady way, with a strong focus on the process. We expect her to continue on that path and gradually bridge the gap to the top general classification riders in the world."