Fem van Empel's new 18 year old teammate could be a star for the future: "The potential was evident"

Imogen Wolff, an 18-year-old British cyclist, has recently joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike, marking a significant step in her young career. Transitioning from junior to professional ranks, Wolff made her debut with the team during La Choralis Fourmies Féminine, shortly after joining in mid-September.

Sports director Jan Boven highlighted Wolff's early promise, telling Wielerflits, "She's still a very young girl. We already saw the talent last year, especially in the very tough cyclocross races." He recalled her performance at the World Cup in Gavere, where she rode in ninth position before mechanical issues affected her final standing. "The potential was evident then," Boven added, emphasising just how much faith he has in someone only born in 2006.

Wolff's addition aligns with the team's strategy to develop talent around established riders like 22-year-old cyclocross world champion Fem van Empel. Boven said, "With Viktória Chladoňová, there's another young talent in the pipeline. She will join the team in 2025. These are our top prospects for the future." He stressed that while there's lots of room for development, the primary focus remains on road racing, "Everything we do in cyclocross serves a purpose for the road."

Wolff's road racing credentials are impressive. She secured third place in the junior time trial at the World Championships, trailing Cat Ferguson and Chladoňová. Additionally, she achieved fourth-place finishes in both the Tour of Flanders and Gent-Wevelgem, and a sixth-place finish in the junior road race at the World Championships in Switzerland.

In her cyclocross debut with the team at Kortrijk, Wolff finished sixth among professionals. Boven spoke about the performance saying, "That was a very nice result. On the tough courses, she will be able to compete. She is a very strong woman."

Wolff's integration into Team Visma | Lease a Bike shows a clear effort to nurture emerging talents, and what a team they are developing for this cyclocross season.