Team Visma | Lease a Bike confirms lineup for Tirreno-Adriatico including Cian Uijtdebroeks and Simon Yates

Team Visma | Lease a Bike has confirmed its lineup for Tirreno-Adriatico, taking place from March 10th to March 16th. The squad brings a mix of experienced stage racers, sprinters, and domestiques, ensuring the team is well-prepared to compete on multiple fronts.

Leading the team will be Cian Uijtdebroeks and Simon Yates, both of whom will target the general classification, while Olav Kooij is set to focus on sprint opportunities. They will be supported by a strong team consisting of Dylan van Baarle, Steven Kruijswijk, Attila Valter, and Dan McLay, giving Visma | Lease a Bike a well-rounded lineup to tackle the varied terrain that Tirreno-Adriatico is known for.

For Uijtdebroeks, this race marks an important benchmark in his season. The young Belgian has undergone a long preparation period, working extensively on his physical condition and learning how to lead a team in races. He is confident that his build-up has put him in a good place heading into Tirreno-Adriatico.

“I’m doing well. Over the winter, I focused a lot on my back, and the issues I had are now resolved,” he said in a team press release.

“At this stage of the season, I’ve already raced quite a lot. So far, that approach feels good. Racing helps you learn positioning and how to lead a team much faster. We’ve put a lot of emphasis on those aspects recently.”

His goals are clear: support Kooij in his hunt for a stage win, while aiming to secure a strong GC result himself.

“We want to win a stage with Olav. Simon and I both have protected roles and can go for the GC. That aligns perfectly with my personal goal: I want to finish as high as possible and see how far I can go. Hopefully, I can build on my performance from the Tour of Oman.”

Uijtdebroeks also spoke about his relationship with Simon Yates, highlighting the differences in their personalities but also the potential to form a strong partnership.

“Simon is a great guy, and we get along really well. I think we have different personalities, he’s very relaxed in his approach to racing. But I think we can form a strong duo and push each other to improve.”

For Yates, Tirreno-Adriatico represents an important moment in his first months with the team. After spending years with Team BikeExchange/Jayco AlUla, he sees this race as a chance to assess his form and adapt to his new setup.

“We’re starting with a strong squad in Italy this week, and I’m excited to make my debut for the team,” said Yates.

“The first months with the team have been great. A lot of things are different, which is natural after spending so many years with another team. But that’s exactly what I wanted—a new environment where I can continue to develop. I can’t wait to finally start racing.”

While his main seasonal peak will come in May, Yates is still motivated to perform well and test his condition against some of the best stage racers in the peloton.

“Tirreno is a great first race to see where we stand. Of course, the real peak has to come in May, but I definitely want to show myself here.”