"I am becoming more and more of a cyclist" - Team Visma | Lease a Bike's new world champion going from strength to strength

Niklas Behrens has quickly established himself as one of cycling’s most promising young talents. The German rider claimed the Under-23 World Championship title in Zurich last year, and over the winter, he transitioned from Lidl-Trek’s development team to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. His rapid rise in the sport has been superb so far, considering he has only been racing for two years.

"He has only been racing for two years," team manager Maarten Wynants explained in an interview with Wielerflits. "But he has developed very quickly from nothing in that short time. Perhaps because he is so eager to learn. He absorbs everything very well. He always does something with all the feedback you give him. Those are good qualities."

Behrens' journey to professional cycling has been unconventional. "I started as a swimmer when I was eight, following in the footsteps of both my parents. Then I switched to triathlon and now I am here," Behrens explained. "I don’t really know why I took those steps, I just followed my talent for racing. In triathlons, I always struggled with running, and I had just been swimming for far too long. I was ready for something new."

His world title victory has significantly raised his profile. "It has been one big journey of discovery for Niklas. But that world title has put him on the map, which means that people are looking at him more," Wynants noted.

Behrens' physical transformation has been an ongoing process since his days as a swimmer. "My body is still changing, after I started as a swimmer," he said. "My upper body was a bit wider for a long time. That cost me extra watts for a long time, but now I am becoming more and more of a cyclist. Fortunately, the engine from my triathlon days is still the same."

While his stature provides certain advantages, it also presents some challenges, "In the lead-outs it is," Behrens pointed out. "I can see over the peloton well, and on the flat, that is my strength." His power on the flat has already been noticed, with Cian Uijtdebroeks mentioning how he liked riding behind Behrens in the Tour of Oman.

However, his size may work against him in tougher terrains. "But in the WorldTour races, it will be to his disadvantage if he has to lug 80 kilograms over the mountains," Wynants remarked. "He compensates for that with his power and can still climb quite well. It is not that he cannot survive anything. He is actually a modern cyclist."

Despite his impressive performances, Behrens' long-term trajectory remains uncertain. "It is difficult to say where he will end up," Wynants admitted. "He is a pure hard rider and classics rider. But he is very open to it and we will have to see how far his journey goes. We will certainly make adjustments where necessary, but for now, he is doing fantastic."

Behrens himself is embracing the transition to the professional ranks without hesitation. "It's not that I have to get used to it very hard. Just like in swimming, this world is also very professional," he said. "That really does not differ that much from sport to sport. But in any case, it is good that I ended up with this team.

"We have the White Jersey Group where everyone gets their chances. For example, I can already ride Paris-Roubaix as a helper and work in the lead-outs, but also sometimes go for my own chances. And all that in a family and pleasant environment. That is why I am certainly not going to face the future with stress, but with good courage."