New domestique for Vingegaard? Visma Lease a Bike eyes Eritrean champion for the 2027 season

Team Visma | Lease a Bike has identified Natnael Tesfatsion as a potential signing for 2027 as the Dutch team looks to strengthen its mountain support for Jonas Vingegaard, according to journalist Daniel Benson.

Benson states that Visma has spent several months searching for a climber capable of reinforcing its Grand Tour squad. Although Jai Hindley had previously been linked with the team as a possible replacement for Simon Yates, Benson reports that negotiations never progressed significantly and that the Australian is now expected to remain with Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe.

Visma has instead turned its attention to Tesfatsion, whose development since joining Movistar Team has reportedly attracted interest. The Eritrean is viewed as a versatile rider capable of supporting leaders in the high mountains while providing consistency throughout stage races.

However, a transfer is far from certain. According to Benson, Movistar is working to extend Tesfatsion's contract and considers him an important part of its long-term project. The Spanish team hopes to secure a renewal before rival offers gain momentum.

No agreement has yet been reached, leaving Tesfatsion's future unresolved. His situation is expected to remain one of the transfer market's key storylines as teams continue negotiating potential moves during the Tour de France ahead of the 2027 season.

Tesfatsion first burst onto the international cycling scene through his dominant performances on the African continent. While riding for the NTT Continental Cycling Team, he achieved a historic breakthrough in 2020 by winning the general classification and a stage at the Tour du Rwanda, alongside a runner-up finish at La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.

He proved this was no fluke in 2022 by reclaiming the overall title in Rwanda while riding for the Italian ProTeam Drone Hopper–Androni Giocattoli, a campaign that also saw him secure the mountains classification and a mountainous stage victory over Monte Grappa at the Adriatica Ionica Race.

His consistently strong performances caught the attention of the WorldTour, leading to a move to Lidl-Trek in 2023. During his tenure with the American squad, he narrowly missed out on a major WorldTour victory in early 2024, finishing second in a tight photo-finish sprint at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, before going on to claim the Eritrean National Road Race Championship later that summer.

Since joining Movistar Team, the 27-year-old has continued to elevate his standing in Europe. A standout highlight of his recent campaigns includes a spectacular stage victory on his birthday at the 4 Jours de Dunkerque, where he ultimately finished second overall on the general classification.