Merijn Zeeman aware that Team Visma | Lease a Bike dominance degrades it's popularity: "You will then have to deal with more suspicions. And then the popularity decreases"
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike have won all three Grand Tours in 2023 and were the most successful team. However this comes with it's downsides, the team has ultimately became less popular as many fans are not very fond of the domination they have had in some races, and doping suspicions are launched much more frequently.
"...Definitely. That was actually the case last year. It's a bit of a wave movement. When you are the underdog, you are often popular and people find you more attractive and fun than when you become more dominant. Then there is more criticism and much is magnified," Zeeman told In de Leiderstrui. "Moreover, you will then have to deal with more suspicions. And then the popularity decreases. Except for the riders of other teams. That actually doesn't apply there at all. When I approach someone to come ride with us, the majority are really enthusiastic."
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At the Vuelta a España this phenomenon was then quite interesting, as Sepp Kuss was widely cheered on two win the race, whilst there was frequently criticism of Primoz Roglic, Jonas Vingegaard and the team management over the riders' free roles over two weeks. However the style of dominance that is similar to that of Team Sky in the 2010's sees comparisons and as was the case with the British team, a lot of discussion on the use of prohibited methods.
This, besides the fact that all statements and movements of it's star riders is closely analyzed all-year long which also leads to other difficult situations. The team is currently looking to rebrand it's as "Yellow B" and are in an active effort to market the team as a band. In the past they have also given team riders their own number as is the case with many other sports.
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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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- Are you able to discuss ANYTHING without making a reference back to your Special 1? It’s almost as if you’re paid by his marketing team to improve his ranking in search results.Jumpyjohn12-11-2026
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We are Team Visma | Lease a Bike. We don't just ride to win, we ride #beyondvictory. 💛🖤
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