Huge Visma transfer boost - Dutch team sign top Belgian prospect in long-term deal until 2030
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike continues to invest in young talent with an eye on the future. The Dutch team has announced the signing of Belgian rider Seff Van Kerckhove through the end of 2030. The long-term deal will allow him to keep developing within one of the most structured programmes in international cycling. A major move in the cycling transfer market.
The young rider will join Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development, the Dutch team’s development squad. He will benefit from an environment designed to strengthen his abilities and help him take measured steps towards the highest level of professional cycling.
Van Kerckhove has impressed in recent seasons across several disciplines, particularly climbing and time trialling. His results in the junior ranks have marked him out as one of the most promising Belgian riders of his generation. Visma aims to build on those qualities with a project designed for the years ahead.
The length of the contract reflects the team’s confidence in his progress. The aim is to give him the tools to gain experience, refine his skills and move towards the elite without rushing his development.
Van Kerckhove recovering from crash
The signing comes as the Belgian rider continues to recover from a crash suffered before the UCI Road World Championships in Canada. The team says his recovery is progressing well, and the rider himself is excited about the new chapter in his career.
“It is a great honour to join one of the biggest teams in cycling. I believe in the team’s sporting project and am convinced it offers the ideal environment for me to keep developing and get the best out of myself,” Van Kerckhove said.
The Belgian also spoke of the positive impression made by his first conversations with the Dutch team. “From the outset, I felt that the team was a great fit for me. I am drawn to its sporting vision and the way everything is organised. I identify with its philosophy and believe I fit into it,” he added.
He intends to make the most of the team’s resources as he prepares for his next races and continues to progress in the coming years. “I am really looking forward to starting this new chapter, working on my racing with the team’s support and continuing to grow as a cyclist,” he said.
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Visma invests in his long-term development
Robbert de Groot, head of Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s development programme, also welcomed the young Belgian rider. The team sees his commitment to improving and his natural abilities as a strong foundation for further progress.
“We are delighted to welcome Seff to our programme. He has shown great commitment to his development, and we believe he has the mindset and qualities to keep progressing,” De Groot said.
De Groot stressed that this stage of a rider’s career requires the right conditions for learning and gaining experience. The team therefore plans to support Van Kerckhove’s development with time, guidance and opportunities to progress at the right pace.
“We believe Seff has the qualities to take important steps over the long term. He still has plenty of room to grow, and we look forward to helping him reach his full potential,” he concluded.
With this deal through 2030, Visma adds one of Belgian cycling’s brightest young prospects to its development programme. The team is backing a gradual progression, with climbing and time trialling among his main strengths.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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