"I often sacrificed myself for others" - Former Visma rider left without a team and risking retirement
Cycling
Milan Vader has only started his professional career on the road in the early 2020's, and was one of Team Visma | Lease a Bike's projects in development. Now, he finds himself fearing retirement from the road, after a rocky split with Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.
The Dutchman had a background in Mountain Biking, and in the pursuit of new undiscovered road talents, Visma signed him directly into the World Tour ranks back in 2022, aged 26. And Vader delivered. In 2022 he spent most of the season away from the bike after sustaining life-threatening injuries in a fall at Itzulia Basque Country, but he managed to recover and return a stronger rider from it.
In 2023 he won the Tour of Guangxi, the World Tour's final event of the year, after also conquering the queen stage of the race. Over his three-year contract, he achieved some meaningful results that confirmed his talent on the road, but his role was limited due to the Dutch team's extreme depth - which ultimately kept him away from the Grand Tours during his contract.
But Vader's career was in no way finished, as he jumped towards Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, joining Tom Pidcock in the Swiss project - which has since grown substantially.
But Vader was not able to maintain his momentum. In 2025 he would have more freedom to pursue his own results, but they were not overly notable. An experienced domestique, he's had no problem in supporting his teammates throughout his two-year stint in the Swiss team, but in the end he has not seen that effort repaid.
Milan Vader at the 2026 Vuelta a España
Milan Vader's rocky departure from Pinarello - Q36.5
"I asked what the real reason for my departure was. I had to ask three times, but I never really got a clear answer," Vader revealed to Wielerflits. "Reading between the lines, I eventually gathered that they needed UCI points. But why not just say so openly? In that case, we could all just sprint to the finish line together—five of us at once".
The professional cycling world features a lot of pressure, specially for the structures away from the World Tour, whose life now features UCI points, limited budgets, contract breakings and historically strong competition.
"Maybe I’m just a bit too nice for that. My results this year weren't extraordinary, but my value to the team and my attitude during races were much better. I often sacrificed myself for others."
The Swiss team has signed 11 riders this winter already, featuring leaders in Giulio Ciccone, Mauro Schmid and Pavel Bittner. Due to that, plenty riders did not have their contracts renewed. For Vader it is an unusual situation, as he recalls the big plans that surrounded him when he turned professional only less than five years ago.
Milan Vader recalls stint at Visma
"At Jumbo-Visma, they initially wanted to turn me into a general classification rider—a sort of Primoz Roglic," he added. But he admits that within his possibilities for the future might be a return to Mountain BIking, where he initially stood out as a professional rider.
"You can never completely erase that mountain biker profile; the more explosive efforts, like those required in the Ardennes classics or one-day races, suit me much better". The puncheur has won the Tour of Guangxi under similar circumstances, but his potential never shone in the same way ever ssince.
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"I feel like I still have more to give, and I don’t think I’m done with cycling yet," he assures however. The 30-year old still has a lot to deliver in the cycling world, he is certain of.
"People back home keep telling me to go back to mountain biking, but I’ve finally figured out how road racing works. I’d really love to sign on for another two years and show what I’m truly capable of," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
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.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
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)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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