Visma to be denied major Classics transfer? - Tom Pidcock's Pinarello team reportedly set to swoop in for Giro stage winner from Dutch team's grasps
CyclingSunday, 27 September 2026 at 13:30
Visma | Lease a Bike look set to miss out on a major 2027 transfer, with a classics specialist linked with a move to the Dutch squad now reportedly on the verge of signing with Pinarello-Q36.5.
Davide Ballerini, the winner of stage 6 of the Giro d'Italia in May, is now on the verge of signing with the ProTeam as they continue to bolster their line-up for next season. In what would be a blow to Richard Plugge's team, Ciro Scognamiglio of Gazzeta dello Sport reports that a deal is close.
The XDS Astana rider, who also won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2021, was expected to be one of the hot properties in the transfer window and now looks set to join the likes of Mauro Schmid, Andrew August and Pavel Bittner as the team's big arrivals in an ambitious transfer window.
As well as those names, Belgium under-23 prospect Niels Driesen will turn professional with the team. Jan Castellon, Tom Crabbe, Liam O'Brien and Sebastian Berwick are among their other signings for 2027 and beyond.
Davide Ballerini
Ballerini set to join Pinarello in Visma blow
Visma's only new arrival for the 2027 season comes in the form of development team rider Matisse Van Kerckhove's promotion to WorldTour level. They did also sign Fabio Jakobsen with immediate effect in August in what's been a largely quiet transfer window so far.
Ballerini turned professional with Androni Giocattoli in 2017, and through one year with Astana in 2019, he joined Quick-Step where he enjoyed the best years of his career with the Belgium team - who operated as a Classics-driven team.
But by 2024, Ballerini was ready to re-join Astana whom he helped on the rise from bottom of WorldTour division to its current sixth spot.
Ballerini takes home first Giro stage win
In 2026, Ballerini struggled to find his success in cobbled Classics, but that didn't break his spirit. The 31-year-old Italian eventually got back on track with a stage win at Tour of Turkiye, just in time for Giro d'Italia.
Astana brought Matteo Malucelli as its designated leader for sprint finishes while Ballerini was tasked with lead-out work.
But on the sketchy finish of stage 6 to Napoli, a large crashed occured just behind Ballerini in the final U-turn, sending Ballerini and Stuyven up the road. And in a one-on-one duel on wet cobbles, Ballerini stood his ground to win his first stage at the home Grand Tour.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Del Toro is one of my favourites, but when he won in Montreal he was supported by his trade team-mates, who had to calm his self-doubt. Don't know how he'll fare on his own.Hills3327-09-2026
- Lowkey this would actually be really cool @Rafionain-Glasanonymouscyclist27-09-2026
- So you put Remco in the last place...I think he should be higher up the scale. His daddy is already saying: "Remco will win. Pogačar should almost be happy he's injured, because Remco would win in any case."PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- OMG, how many records can be set in only one WC road race: Remco (double gold) or Del Toro (the only Mexican in history) or Seixas (the youngest ever) or... ??? All because of one cyclist, that didn't make it to the WC. The same cyclist that wins Montreal every year. The G.O.A.T. is injured... and some cyclists became lucky... they all got an early Christmas present from Pogi-Santa. The only one to admit that is Wout Van Aert... Remco would never admit it. You all know what Remco's daddy will say if Remco wins?: "Remco would have won the race, even if Tadej Pogačar was there."PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- My preferences in order based on my likeable scale. MVP.. he's a killer IDT Pidcock Paul S. WVE..seems to be good guy RemcoSantiago27-09-2026
- Oh really, Jonas was blasted by a former Danish cyclist? He deserves to be blasted.... Pogi's injuries were bigger and happened later than those of Jonas, but we can already see Pogi training on the road with a smile on his face. Where is Jonas??? I guess he's in his "rabbit hole"... with Trine digging it deeper and deeper. Please, never again compare Pogi to Jonas... NEVER !!! If all cyclists were like Jonas, no one would watch cycling. Having no heart, no passion, and no interest, describes Jonas in a state of emotional numbness, detachment, and an inability to care about or enjoy his bike racing. The passion cyclists like Pogi, Remco, MVdP, Van Aert, Pidcock, Del Toro, Seixas... etc. etc. have, is nowhere to be seen in Jonas. He races two to three races a year and that's it. Give me a break.PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- This time around Pogi's injuries were bigger and happened later than those of Jonas, but we can already see Pogi training on the road with a smile on his face. Where is Jonas??? I guess he's in his "rabbit hole"... with Trine digging it deeper and deeper. Please, never again compare Pogi to Jonas... NEVER !!! If all cyclists were like Jonas, no one would watch cycling. Having no heart, no passion, and no interest, describes Jonas in a state of emotional numbness, detachment, and an inability to care about or enjoy his bike and racing it. The passion cyclists like Pogi, Remco, MVdP, Van Aert, Pidcock, Del Toro, Seixas... etc. etc. have, is nowhere to be seen with Jonas. He races two to three races a year and that's it. Give me a break.PogiSloFans27-09-2026
- Non-pros are eligible to ride, it's the Worlds. Last place in the time trial was over 24 minutes slower than Evenepoel, averaging 33.8 km/h, and any serious-ish amateur in Britain can beat that
Rafionain-Glas27-09-2026 - The thing is that del Toro is nowhere as dominant as SaganRafionain-Glas27-09-2026
- And why would Kasia want all 4 together? If that was her goal, she could have helped ELB with the chase.Mistermaumau27-09-2026
Loading
Write a comment