Visma confirm signing of 25-year old former triathlete - "That clearly shows he has real talent"
Cycling
Team Visma | Lease a Bike have confirmed their third signing of the winter. After two youngsters from it's development team, the Dutch team have announced the signing of 25-year old Anton Schiffer, a former triathlete and rider who has been heavily linked to the team for several months now.
This is a move that from those inside the cycling world comes as no surprise, as Schiffer had been linked to Visma this past July - an agreement had likely already been reached with the Bike Aid rider, only with the announcement remaining. Schiffer's story is an interesting one, having been a triathlete at a young age and making the switch to cycling full-time only three years ago. However he showed off his talent very quickly and that has not escaped the eyes of the world's top teams.
“We believe he still has a lot of room to improve in all areas. Based on the conversations we have had, we know he is a really good fit for us," team DS Grischa Niermann said in a press release. "Despite racing for a small team, he has already managed to take his first pro win. That clearly shows he has real talent. We’re looking forward to working with him and are pleased that we’ll be able to have him race with us starting in October.”
This year he's confirmed his potential to be a big presence in the peloton, having finished second at the Tour of Hellas, third at the German national championships and most recently winning the queen stage of the Sibiu Cycling Tour ahead of talented climber and overall winner Matthew Riccitello. He will join the team in October already and potentially make his debut within month and a half's time, but has a contract running for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
“This step may come as a surprise to the outside world, but given how this season has progressed, it doesn’t surprise me as much,” Schiffer said of his signing with the world's current second-best team. “I had already been in contact with the team since the Tour of Hellas, and I’m happy that it ultimately led to my first WorldTour contract".
With the changes that will come in his preparation and nutrition, we could see another huge breakthrough within the Dutch team over the coming years in the German. "I’m looking forward to really living like a professional athlete for the first time. Being able to fully focus on my sport, combined with the support from internal experts, the use of the Athlete’s FoodCoach, the equipment, and the team’s experience are all things I hope will help me grow as a rider.”
Read also
Wilkommen Anton! 🇩🇪
— Team Visma | Lease a Bike (@vismaleaseabike) August 19, 2025
From triathlon to WorldTour cycling in a few years. Anton Schiffer will join our team as of October 1st. “I’m looking forward to really living like a professional athlete for the first time.”
Read more: https://t.co/TXmY2xe0ys pic.twitter.com/UzOjTcGOYi
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
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