OFFICIAL: Visma finally confirms signing of young French talent - "The team’s story and the plans they have really convinced me"

It is a signing that had been in the works for months, but was only seemingly allowed to be made public at the start of 2026. As the year begins, Team Visma | Lease a Bike officially welcome Louis Barré of Intermarché - Wanty in the team.

This is a move that had already been expected for a while, with the Frenchman being linked to the team since the depths of the winter amidst the Lotto-Intermarché merger which rendered Intermarché's contracts virtually invalid. He was training in Spain with the Dutch team as well, confirming the two were closely tied already.

“Louis caught our eye during the tougher one-day races. He achieved some great results there, and he also showed himself in the Dauphiné," DS Grischa Niermann said in a press release. "He is still relatively young and has good potential for growth. We believe he can continue to develop within our team and see him as a strong addition to our lineup for the demanding hilly classics.”

The 25-year old had his best year so far in 2025, finishing sixth at the Amstel Gold Race and the GP de Montréal, but also providing a few strong performances throughout the year at World Tour level and other races below. Like Axel Zingle and several other recent transfers of Visma, he is a rider with some degree of success, and the team is looking to get the full potential out of him.

“The team’s story and the plans they have really convinced me,” the former Intermarché - Wanty rider argued. “Team Visma | Lease a Bike is one of the best teams in the world, and I believe that with the support and structure here I can make significant progress. The team is innovative in every area: nutrition, equipment, training camps, and more. I want to challenge myself, and I think this is where I can become the best version of myself.”

His role will vary throughout the year certainly, but will also depend on how he evolves as a rider. But the classics are where he should perform best. “I want to keep focusing on the hilly classics because that’s where I perform best. But I’m also looking forward to improving in week-long stage races and supporting the best general-classification riders in the world when they fight for victory.”