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Follow us on GoogleVisma | Lease a Bike has confirmed the signing of Mark Donovan. The 27-year-old Briton's contract with Pinarello-Q36.5 will expire this season, allowing Donovan to sign a two-year contract with Visma.
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The news about Donovan actually broke in early September, but at that point it was still just a rumor. The deal has now been confirmed in a press release. “Donovan has established himself as a key player in the professional peloton over the past few seasons,” the team said.
"His versatility allows him to perform well on various types of courses and take on different roles within a team. At the same time, he has continued to develop and has gained a better understanding of where his strengths lie," the statement continues.
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Mark Donovan
Visma | Lease a Bike sees great potential in Donovan
"Versatile" is a word that comes up often. "With Donovan, Visma | Lease a Bike is bringing in a rider who adds experience and extra quality to the team. His versatility and reliability make him particularly well-suited for stage races," the team said.
With Steven Kruijswijk’s retirement, Visma | Lease a Bike appears to have found the perfect replacement to support in the mountains and control the front of the peloton. “Visma | Lease a Bike is one of the best teams in the world,” Donovan exclaims.
"When a team like that asks you to join them, you don't have to think twice. I've been racing in the professional peloton for a number of years now, and over the past few seasons I've been able to develop further and discover what kind of rider I am."
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Donovan and Marc Reef on the Visma transfer
"The move to this team therefore comes at the right time," said Donovan, who is looking forward to a new environment. "As part of a team that has won major stage races before, I hope to continue demonstrating my consistency and, in doing so, contribute to victories."
Head of Racing Marc Reef is pleased with Donovan's arrival. "I think Mark is a great fit for the way we approach racing. Over the past few seasons, he has shown that he is a very reliable and versatile rider whom you can count on in a variety of situations."
"What's more, he has what it takes to perform when the competition is fierce. That can be particularly valuable to us in stage races, where he can play a key role in supporting our team leaders."
"We also believe there is still room for further development. At 27, Mark is still relatively young, and we look forward to discovering together just how much potential he still has."
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Grande articolo. Evenepoel e Ciccone al limite totale — respeto. Pero por favor, UEC, mostra la foto esatta della linea per evitare polemiche.jeremya06-10-2026
- - Not totally convinced by the “no further statements” line from UEC. If they used dual systems, where’s the corroborating second image? Publish both or it feels a bit opaque, ragazzi.julien06-10-2026
- - Quick one: why do the wheels look “bent” in the photo finish? Is that just the time axis thing you mentioned?lindae06-10-2026
- - Remco by a whisker is believable, but Cicco’s request is fair. In track and road we always go by the leading edge of the front tyre at the line—show the exact pixel row of the stripe and we’re done. Good piece.samanthak06-10-2026
- - Blimey, what a nail-biter. If the margin’s0028s and they’ve got EtherLynx running at 13,000 fps, just release the raw line-scan image and close the debate. Transparency costs nothing.cadencekingm06-10-2026
- - Wait, what does “qualified in age group 35–39” mean—does that race separately from the elites at Worlds, or is it all together? And do you need a UCI license for that? Gracias por la info, cheers.andrewf05-10-2026
- - While others are relaxing on their boats… he’s grinding gravel. Legend. Go VB77!michael5405-10-2026
- - That 56 km first leg looks like a shakeout ride. Does he plan to split it over 3–4 days? Heat/humidity in SEA is brutal—electrolytes will be key.sprocketspiny05-10-2026
- - “Undertakeke” made me laugh but edit pls. Also, is the course in Nannup more climby or flat farm roads? Would’ve suited Valtteri’s diesel engine, I reckon.julien05-10-2026
- - Tiffany Cromwell shoutout is deserved. They recon together and you can see her influence in his pacing and position on dirt. Great duo.pedalpowe2905-10-2026
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