Fresh batch of talent heading to world's best U23 team - Visma DT announces four new signings

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.