"He wants to move on" - Visma confirm Grischa Niermann's departure; Plugge disappointed and Reef takes over head role

It was reported this Monday evening that Head of Racing at Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Grischa Niermann, was leaving the team. The current Head of Racing is a key part of the team and has guided the likes of Jonas Vingegaard, Wout Van Aert and the group of sports directors within the team. This has now been confirmed by Richard Plugge.

Niermann, the 'architecht', is reported by Wielerflits to be heading towards Lidl-Trek in the future. This Tuesday morning the team has confirmed in a press release that Niermann is departing the team whilst Richard Plugge confirms this was the German's own decision.

Most likely, this was something that was in the management's plans. At 08:59CET this morning the media was invited to take part in a press conference, with the topic being undisclosed. Hours later the press release would be issued, whilst Plugge and Marc Reef discussed the matter.

Marc Reef will be the new Head of Racing at Visma, something that has been confirmed right after he guided Jonas Vingegaard to victory at the Giro d'Italia. Reef is an experienced figure with plenty years in the team and experience working with its leaders, something which should soften the blow to the Dutch team.

Niermann stays in the team until the end of August but he will not take part in pre-scheduled races such as the Tour Auvergne - Rhônes Alpes or the Tour de France, where he was set to be the head sports director. Nierman will leave the team at the end of August, and Reed will take over the role on September 1st.

“Being approached by the team to step into the role of Head of Racing and join the sport management team is a fantastic opportunity that I am eager to embrace," Reef said in a press release. "Over the past years, I have been able to develop myself in a very positive way within this team. For a long time, I have felt that the philosophy and culture of this organization suit me extremely well. In the coming weeks, my full focus will be on preparing for the Tour de France. It remains one of the most important objectives for our team.”

“Since Merijn [Zeeman] left, we built a new structure with more people leading the sports department. Our aim is always to make our organisation ‘anti-fragile'." WIth Niermann departing the team, Reed is taking over the main managing duties with immediate effect, and will be the man behind the wheel at the Tour de France with the team.

“Jesper Mørkøv (who guided Vingegaard towards his La Vuelta win in 2025, ed.) will go the Tour de France with me,” Reef explained in the media call that took place this morning. “We have been doing quite some races together in the last year and a half. We were together at the Giro. and we will continue in that line at the Tour.”

In a more open matter, the questions that fell upon the duo revealed more insight into Niermann's decision. “Like Richard, I was also surprised and of course also sad about the message from Grischa that he was going to leave the team, as he was a very pleasant colleague to work with".

“Looking to myself, after 15 years as a DS in the WorldTour, I also see this opportunity as a logical step for myself. I’m very happy, but also grateful with the trust that I feel from the team to get this opportunity. After being the leading coach at the Giro, I can also say that I will take that role in the upcoming Tour de France, and my first focus will be on that. After the Tour, we look forward.”

Team CEO Richard Plugge, only two days ago, was in Rome celebrating with Jonas Vingegaard and the entire team. This Tuesday morning, the mood was on the opposite side of the spectrum. “I’m disappointed to see Grischa leave because, as a person and as a great sports director, I have a lot of respect for him. But he wants to move on and I respect that choice, obviously," he adds, explaining that Niermann made the decision which was later on communicated to the team.

The departure is not immediate, but his presence in the big events will not be the same. “He will be staying until August 31 with us to support in the background mainly. He will do some races – not the Dauphiné and Tour de France, but others like Tour de Suisse. He will stay in the background to support Marc and the rest, and hand over everything.”