"Further developing myself as a GC rider" - Visma's year-long transfer project on future goals and adapting
Cycling
Team Polti VisitMalta's Davide Piganzoli has revealed that Team Visma | Lease a Bike first contacted him back in January, making it clear the Italian was an absolute priority for this transfer period. The Italian rider will be an interesting project in development for the Dutch team, who has taken a gamble on a group of Italian riders for the 2026 season.
"Contact with Visma was made between late January and early February. That was when the races started; I had the Gran Camino and then the Tirreno-Adriatico on my schedule," Piganzoli said to BiciPro. "Despite everything, we managed to find a day for a video call, and they presented the project to me. I was immediately enthusiastic about the idea Visma presented, and I thought about it for a while, as many other teams were interested. Ultimately, it was this team's project that impressed me the most".
Piganzoli won't join the team alone, as fellow ProTeam long-standing leader (of Bardiani in this case) Filippo Fiorelli will also make the move, whilst another compatriot in Visma's development ranks Pietro Mattio will also join Edoardo Affini who is already in the team's elite ranks. Piganzoli is set to make a huge move in terms of team environment, and will now be a teammate with the likes of none other than Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert for example.
"They talked to me about growth and showed me what they've done with other riders. We discussed the equipment the team has at its disposal and the planning for every step we want to take. In short, all things that really impressed me, and I think it was that little bit extra that made me choose this organization."
GC rider in development
The 23-year old has spent the last few years focusing fully on his GC development, showing this well right from his neo-pro year in 2023 where he was third at the Tour de l'Avenir. In 2024 he won the Tour of Antalya, finished 13th at the Giro d'Italia, 10th at the Tour of the Alps and third at the Giro dell'Emilia behind only Tadej Pogacar and Tom Pidcock.
Whilst this year, he was second at O Gran Camiño, 14th at the Giro d'Italia, second at La Route d'Occitanie, amongst other results. The potential is there but his future was already secured for a long-time, with a three-year deal on the table with the Dutch team.
"In the beginning, I'll definitely have to help and learn, but the focus will also be on growing and further developing myself as a GC rider. They've definitely seen that I'm good on long climbs. They've seen how I've trained so far and think I can still improve a lot. They've also seen that I'm strong in time trials and that I've shown that I perform well".
Piganzoli is perhaps the most promising signing of Visma this year. @Sirotti
He is also keen on beginning the full-detailed approach to pro cycling that a few teams thrive over others still. "Cervélo has excellent equipment, and I know they're working hard on this discipline, so I think I can still improve here. From a Grand Tour perspective, it's an important step; these days, everything depends on every second. Visma is studying this aspect thoroughly, and I think it's a good step to take."
"I have three years of experience with Polit VisitMalta, so now it's time to change direction and take a leap. It's a big step; I'm joining one of the best WorldTour teams. I think this will further motivate me to understand who I am and where I can go," he concluded.
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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