Dylan van Baarle confirms departure from Visma | Lease a Bike and explains why: "You can be wrong, of course"
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Follow us on GoogleDylan van Baarle has confirmed his departure from Visma | Lease a Bike. In the podcast In Koers, the 33-year-old Dutchman explains that after three seasons in Dutch service, it is time for a change. After three seasons with Cannondale, five seasons with INEOS, and three seasons with Visma, Van Baarle's next destination is yet to be announced.
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Van Baarle's departure had been in the air for several months. His contract with Visma | Lease a Bike is expiring, and since early May, the Dutchman has been linked with a move to Soudal-Quick Step. Cycling teams are not allowed to make transfers official until August 1, so we will have to wait until then for official news.
In his podcast with Wout Poels and AD journalist Marijn Abbenhuijs, Van Baarle explained why he will not renew his contract with Visma | Lease a Bike. “It's not a decision I made overnight, but especially after the bad luck of the past few years, it might be good to have a new challenge. I feel that a new environment can give me a fresh boost.”
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Van Baarle endured many setbacks at Visma | Lease a Bike
Van Baarle joined his current team in 2023 with high ambitions, a year after winning Paris-Roubaix for INEOS. At Visma, the adventure started well with a win in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but then he broke his hand in Roubaix, his collarbone in the 2024 Dauphiné, his hip in the 2024 Vuelta, and earlier this year, his collarbone again in Australia.
Van Baarle did win the Dutch road championship in 2023, but he undoubtedly had higher expectations for his time in yellow and black. “You can be wrong, of course, but I think leaving will allow me to perform at the level I have performed at in the past,” he said hopefully.
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
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