Visma | Lease a Bike strikes the market again to secure an "immense talent", the 17-year-old Ashlin Barry on long-term contract
Cycling
Ashlin Barry took the European junior racing scene by storm to finish as best 2007-born rider on the FirstCycling ranking. The 17-year-old American has still one more year as junior up ahead, but he doesn't have to fear for his future with a WorldTour contract in his pocket. Next season, Barry will join JEGG Skil DJR, the junior team collaborating with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, while he gets to enjoy all the benefits of collaboration with the top WorldTour team.
"We see immense talent in Ashlin, along with significant room for growth," said Robbert de Groot, Head of Development at Team Visma | Lease a Bike. "We are therefore very pleased that he will be part of our team in the coming years. This is the first time we have signed someone so young directly for our WorldTeam. It reflects our confidence in Ashlin’s potential and underscores our belief in long-term collaborations."
Barry himself is equally enthusiastic about his move: "Team Visma | Lease a Bike is truly a dream team. It’s incredibly inspiring to sign with the same team as riders like Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard. They are great examples of how you can develop further within this team. Of course, I’m still very young and in the process of discovering my specialties. I believe the classics and time trials might suit me best, but I’m confident that this team is the perfect choice to guide me on that journey."
After completing his final year as a junior with JEGG Skil DJR, Barry will transition to Team Visma | Lease a Bike in 2026. "Whether and how long he will race for the Development Team and when he will step up to the WorldTour will depend on his progress," De Groot explained.
"Thanks to our development pyramid, which includes a junior, development, and WorldTeam, we can remain flexible and offer riders like Ashlin a tailored pathway to further their growth. When it comes to talent development, we can truly offer customized solutions."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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Brucegel14-11-2026 - I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
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