Swimming coach Jacco Verhaeren should take over Merijn Zeeman's role at Visma | Lease a Bike from 2025 onwards

Jacco Verhaeren will succeed Merijn Zeeman at Visma | Lease a Bike. After this cycling season, Zeeman will leave for football club AZ in Alkmaar to work as general manager. As a result, the position of sporting director at the cycling formation has become available.

Several sources have indicated to WielerFlits that Verhaeren will fill the position of main sports director from next season. Verhaeren was added to the performance staff of the Dutch cycling team at the end of last year.

The intention is for Verhaeren to take charge of the entire top-level sports policy within Visma | Lease a Bike and control the sporting event from a helicopter view. A large part of Zeeman's cycling technical matters will be taken over by Grischa Niermann and Mathieu Heijboer, who are also moving up within the organization.

Verhaeren and the cycling team indicated last year that they believe in know-how exchange between the two sports. This year, Verhaeren will mainly oversee the processes in the background. Verhaeren is currently fully focused on his position as national coach of the French swimming team, with the Olympic Games in Paris as his absolute main goal.