No good news for Visma | Lease a Bike as Christophe Laporte is forced to postpone his season debut due to an illness

The previous season left a bitter taste in the mouths of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, which is why the Dutch team had hoped to have a fresh start coming into 2025. But so far, it doesn't seem like their misery is yet to come an end.

One of those caught up in the crossfire is Christophe Laporte who'll be forced to postpone his season start due to an illness, WielerFlits informs. The 32-year-old Frenchman was due to start his season during the Opening weekend at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne, but his preparation is not yet in the phase where he'd be ready to take on the big races.

So while Belgian classics are not happening, the next items on Laporte's schedule are yet to be decided. His Strade Bianche participation seems unlikely and so his 2025 debut could realistically come at the Milano-Sanremo.

It's far from perfect start of season for Visma | Lease a Bike with Dylan van Baarle already sidelined for a considerable period with an injury, Sepp Kuss and Wout Van Aert far from their ideal form and an illness hunting the riders at UAE Tour with three men including Olav Kooij and Thomas Gloag already forced to abandon.