Visma hand 24-year-old DS the keys to their future: “It’s nerve-wracking, but I’m really excited”
Cycling
At just 24, Joppe de Heij has been handed a level of responsibility that few sports directors reach so early in their careers.
From this season, he steps into the WorldTour environment with Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women, joining one of the most structured and ambitious programmes in the sport at a time when women’s cycling continues to accelerate rapidly.
The move is striking not only because of De Heij’s age, but because of the trust it signals from Visma. While the Dutchman arrives as part of a wider sports director group rather than as a lone decision maker, the pathway is clear. He will be given responsibility, exposure at major races, and the space to grow inside an organisation that places long-term development at the centre of its philosophy.
“I know it’s a bit nerve-wracking,” De Heij admitted upon arriving in quotes to Visma's official website, “but I’m really excited.” That mix of realism and ambition is exactly what Visma believe will serve him well as he takes his first steps at WorldTour level.
Why Visma moved early on De Heij
De Heij’s rise has been rapid. After starting out with a Dutch junior team, he moved quickly into the professional environment with Unibet Tietema Rockets, gaining experience both on the road and behind the scenes before deciding to focus fully on sports director duties. That background, combined with his proactive approach, helped put him on Visma’s radar.
Rather than waiting for the “right moment”, De Heij made the first move himself, reaching out to Head of Coaching Jacco Verhaeren after the pair crossed paths on the UCI sports director course. What followed was faster than he expected. Within weeks, he was embedded at Visma’s January training camp in Spain, integrating with riders and staff ahead of his first races in charge.
Women’s cycling itself was a major factor in the decision. De Heij was clear that the direction of the discipline appealed to him, both in terms of opportunity and growth, and Visma were equally clear that they wanted people who actively chose the women’s programme rather than viewing it as a stepping stone.
A gradual role, not a rushed one
Despite the headline-grabbing age, Visma are careful not to frame this as throwing a newcomer in at the deep end. De Heij will initially act as an assistant at the biggest races, while taking on lead responsibility at smaller events. The aim is progression, not pressure.
Team manager Rutger Tijssen underlined that balance when explaining why the team felt comfortable making the appointment. De Heij, he said, already brings experience, but more importantly, shows a clear willingness to learn and absorb knowledge from those around him. Visma see value not just in what he already knows, but in how he processes and applies it.
For De Heij himself, that learning curve is the appeal. “This is only my third year as a sports director,” he said. “My goal is to gain as much experience as possible and learn from the people around me.” His first race in the role, the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, represents both a test and an opportunity to put theory into practice.
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A familiar Visma pattern
While the appointment stands out on paper, it fits a pattern that has become familiar across the Visma organisation. The team has consistently shown a willingness to invest early in people it believes in, whether riders or staff, and to build them within a defined structure rather than chasing short-term fixes.
In that sense, De Heij’s arrival is less about a single hire and more about signalling intent. As women’s cycling continues to professionalise at pace, Visma are positioning themselves not just with riders on the road, but with the next generation of leadership behind the scenes.
For De Heij, the challenge now is simple to define but harder to execute: learn quickly, contribute immediately, and grow into the responsibility that comes with being trusted so young. For Visma, it is another calculated bet on the future.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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