"An important pillar of our team" - Visma | Lease a Bike tie down key Tour de France team member to new three-year deal
CyclingThursday, 27 August 2026 at 10:35
Team Visma | Lease a Bike have tied down a key member of their team for three more seasons, confirming a new three year contract keeping Edoardo Affini at the setup until at least 2029. The Italian rouleur signs after playing a key role for the team in the past two editions of the Tour de France.
A time-trial specialist who helped power Visma to victory in the team time trial opening stage of the Tour, Affini has rode Grand Tours every season since joining in 2021 - taking on the Giro d'Italia for five seasons in a row from 2021 to 2025.
Affini's role within the team has grown over the past two seasons as he joined their core Tour de France unit, finishing third place in the stage 5 time trial of the 2025 race. Now 30-years-old, the new contract will keep him with the team until the end of the 2029 season.
Affini's delight at new three-year deal
"I am really happy to extend my contract with the team," Affini said during the announcement. "I think these next three years show the mutual trust and confidence we have built after already working together for six years.
"I have found my place here, and I am looking forward to continuing to work and improve in this environment."
Describing the rider as a key pillar to the team, his classics and Grand Tour credentials make him a versatile option for the team: "Edoardo has become an important pillar of our team," Visma Director of Racing Marc Reef said.
Edoardo Affini
Reef praises Affini's versatility and temperament
"He is a rider who combines exceptional physical qualities with experience, intelligence and a strong sense of responsibility. Whether he is working for a leader in a Grand Tour, supporting the team in the classics or focusing on his own ambitions, Edoardo always brings the same level of professionalism."
Reef also touched on his temperament as a key reason he fits in at the squad, noting the 2024 European time trial champion is expected to contribute strongly to the team's ambitions in the coming seasons.
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"Under all circumstances, he is a source of calm and quality for the team, and he has also become a true culture carrier within the group. We value his contribution enormously and are proud that he will continue this journey with us until 2029."
Affini suffered a crash at the Italian time trial national championships in June but recovered well to make it to the Tour startline in time for their team win in Barcelona. He rode the rest of the race in support of Jonas Vingegaard before the Dane's crash saw them expand and focus on other goals.
The Italian did not finish stage 19's Alpe d'Huez finish, and has not raced since.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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