Bart Lemmen's had a roller coaster year that he couldn’t have
imagined happening at the start of 2024. The 29-year-old Dutch rider, who
joined Team Visma | Lease a Bike at the end of 2023, made significant strides
in his first full year at the WorldTour level, including his dream debut at the
Tour de France.
For Lemmen, the opportunity to ride the Tour de France came
unexpectedly, as he explained in a team press release. "I was sitting on
the couch at home when Grischa to say that I would be the intended replacement
if Sepp did not get fit in time,” Lemmen revealed. “A week later, I was sitting
on exactly the same couch when Grischa called again to say that I would indeed
go to the Tour. That was of course a special moment.”
Riding in support of Jonas Vingegaard, Lemmen played a
crucial role in helping the Danish rider secure a second-place finish behind
Tadej Pogacar in the Tour’s General Classification.
“I really enjoyed riding around at the highest level for
three weeks,” he said. “But I didn't forget that I had to be focused every day.
I really pinched myself and realized how special everything that was happening
was, but in the end, I just had to cycle hard. The heartwarming reactions I got
from those around me made me realize that what I was doing was not everyday.”
Following his strong performances in the Tour, Lemmen earned
a spot on the Netherlands team for the World Championships. He capped off his
season with a standout ride at the Coppa Bernocchi, where he came agonisingly
close to securing his first professional victory.
“That certainly gave me a bitter feeling,” Lemmen admitted.
“But I was especially proud that I was in a position to win a race at all. The
fact that it didn't work out in the end is of course very sour, but I only take
the positives from it. Who would have thought twelve months ago that it would
all turn out like this? I certainly didn't.”
As the 2025 season approaches, Lemmen is determined to build
on his success and set new goals. “2025 is about to start, and I'm looking
forward to putting my best foot forward in great competitions again. The bar is
also being raised a bit for me. I now have a year of experience at WorldTour
level in the bag, and I would like to compete for the victories next year,” he
stated.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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