“My biggest dream? To win Paris-Roubaix" - Visma’s latest transfer has lofty Classics ambitions as she signs two-year deal
Cycling
Visma - Lease a Bike continues to shape its roster for the coming seasons and has completed the signing of Femke Markus. The 29-year-old Dutch rider will join the team from 2027 on a two-year deal through the end of 2028.
Markus arrives to reinforce the Dutch team’s classics unit in particular. Her profile suits the most demanding races on the calendar, where toughness, positioning, and the ability to handle difficult conditions ultimately make the difference. This season she has already shown as much with her victory at the Antwerp Port Epic.
In recent years, the Dutch rider has become a regular at the hardest classics. Her power and ability to endure when the race bites are among her main strengths, along with a clear willingness to work for her teammates.
Markus will find at Visma a new platform to keep developing. She began her sporting career in speed skating, even joining the Dutch national junior program, before ultimately committing to cycling.
Her move to Visma aligns with the structure’s intention to further strengthen its classics squad. Markus stands out for her ability to race at high tempo over selective routes, a terrain where she expects to keep making progress.
“What attracts me to Visma - Lease a Bike is the knowledge and experience within the team. I’m really eager to learn and keep improving. With the support of The Athlete’s FoodCoach and a science-based approach, I believe I can still take steps forward here,” Markus says.
Paris-Roubaix, Markus’s big dream
The Dutch rider is also clear on the races she enjoys most. “I love the classics, echelon racing, and demanding events. I’m a powerful rider. I really enjoy it when a race gets hard and the strongest wins.”
That collective mindset will also matter within her new team. Markus defines herself as “above all, a team player” and says she wants to “win with the team and always give my very best.”
The spring classics hold a special place in her goals. In fact, Markus makes no secret of the race she most longs to contest—and above all, to win.
“My favorite race is Paris-Roubaix, but I’m also highly motivated by races like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Nokere Koerse, and In Flanders Fields,” she explains.
The Dutch rider admits that the tension starts even before echelon races. “I always get a little nervous before an echelon race, but once you’re in it, the feeling is incredible. Riding on the limit, fighting for position, and building the race as a team is something I really enjoy.”
And her big dream is clear: “My biggest dream? To win Paris-Roubaix.”
Franziska Koch ended up taking the win at Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2026
Visma confident in her room for growth
The signing also convinces team manager Rutger Tijssen, who believes Markus fits the profile Visma was seeking to bolster its classics block.
“Femke is a rider who fits perfectly with the profile we were looking for for our classics team. In recent years, she has shown she performs well in selective races and in demanding conditions. At the same time, we believe there’s still room for improvement in our environment, and we’re eager to take the next steps together with Femke,” Tijssen explains.
The Dutch coach especially highlights her performances when conditions worsen and the race starts to whittle down the peloton. “Femke is a rider who has proven her worth over several years in classics and races where strength and race intelligence make the difference.”
Her arrival will give Visma | Lease a Bike another key piece for the spring classics from 2027. Markus also joins convinced she can still improve, with a clear objective: to become an increasingly reliable rider at the marquee events on the calendar.
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.
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