Fresh batch of talent heading to world's best U23 team - Visma DT announces four new signings
Cycling
Out of 17 graduees, 14 have already entered the professional peloton, with another four set to make the step up next year. Those are some pretty impressive numbers proving the quality of both; work and scouting at Visma | Lease a Bike's Development Team. Olav Kooij, Finn Fisher-Black and Van Dijke twins - just to name a few products of the elite academy.
It may seem that securing a contract with the team is almost a guarantee of making it big. Thus it's no surprise the team's signings are being followed more closely than of any other DT. As mentioned, the team will "lose" quite a few of its valuable assets as four riders make the step up to WorldTour next year. This means new reinforcements must have arrived. Let's get to know them a bit better with Visma's head of development Robbert de Groot.
First signing is the 20-year-old Will Smith. The British climber kept relatively low profile in his first U23 season, however this year he showed everyone why another top academy Trinity Racing put their faith in Smith. 10th at the U23 Liege-Bastogne-Liege, followed by second place in queen stage of Ronde l'Isard catapulted the Brit among the brightest climbing prospects in his class.
"Smith is a good climber with a lot of growth potential. He is a typical example of a rider who needs a bit more time to develop, but we are confident that we can help him get to a higher level over the next two years," says De Groot.
Unlike Smith, the next signing Mikal Grimstad Uglehus is still figuring out where his limits are. The 2023 junior champion of Norway had quite a few solid results in his first year out of juniors, showing his qualities both in hilly races as well as an ability to finish off the work in a reduced sprint.
"Uglehus is a very strong and all-around rider. With him, we will work on all aspects that we consider important in the sport: training, nutrition, tactics, and coaching," De Groot reckons.
Current U19 German time trial champion Ian Kings comes from Visma's U19 academy, just like another next season signing Patryk Goszczurny. The 18-year-old has been performing consistently in all types of races, but his main asset remains his tímetrialing ability.
"We know Ian well because he is already part of JEGG De Jonge Renner Academy, with whom we have a collaboration. He is a true team player, has a background in track cycling, and we see plenty of room for progress in all facets of the sport," explains De Groot, pointing out that there's more than just numbers behind signing the German cyclist.
Then there is one more signing and it's perhaps the most exciting one. Matisse Van Kerckhove is a name not even some of the die-hard junior cycling fans may be fully familiar with. Still just 17 years old, the Belgian, who grew up in Spain, made a transfer to road from mountain bikes only very recently, but his performances and especially test values already caught the eye of Visma's scouts.
"Matisse has only recently started road cycling and has already made tremendous progress in a short time. We think he has potential as a climber and time trialist, but it will be a great journey of discovery," De Groot shares the excitement.
Read also
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
Loading
🇳🇱 #NKwielrennen Proud of the guys, who showed their fighting spirit. ⚔️
Write a comment