“It wasn't completely equal” – Former pro reveals gaps between men and women’s squads of Team Visma | Lease a Bike
Cycling
Jip van den Bos, a former professional cyclist who spent two
years with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, has opened up about her experience at the
Dutch outfit, highlighting a perceived gap between the men’s and women’s
programmes.
Now 29, van den Bos stepped away from racing in 2022 after
suffering long-term effects from a serious concussion. Speaking in a recent
interview with Wieler Revue, the current Eurosport presenter reflected
on a difficult chapter in her career.
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“I spent my entire period there struggling with that
concussion,” she said. “But it was a nice group of riders and a good team
management. I felt at ease, but I could never be the best version of myself
during that period. I never felt like the old Jip there."
Though she recalls a supportive environment among teammates
and direct staff, van den Bos believes that wider structural inequalities were
evident during her time at the team.
"Now I actually have to give a politically correct
answer, haha. Of course I don't know how it is now, but when I rode there it
still had to grow. Let me put it this way: it wasn't completely equal. While we
were promised that it would be completely equal. You could tell from the
facilities and from statements that were made that we weren't taken as
seriously as the men's team."
She made clear that the disparity wasn’t due to a lack of
effort from those directly involved with the women’s squad, praising figures
like team manager Esra Tromp for their commitment, but felt the priorities of
the organisation as a whole leaned heavily toward the men’s side.
"Not from our own guidance, because someone like Esra
Tromp took it very seriously. But from a higher level we were not equal
compared to the men. The guidance has changed and everything is well organised
and professional, but from the organisation itself the focus will always remain
on the men, I think."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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