Visma | Lease a Bike announces signing of 25-year-old former triathlete: “May come as a surprise to outsiders”

Schiffer has had a standout season, finishing second at the Tour of Greece and fourth at the Sibiu Tour. He also took third place at the German National Championships. However, Visma | Lease a Bike had been keeping an eye on him for some time as a potential addition to their roster, according to Schiffer himself.

“This step may come as a surprise to the outside world, but given how this season has progressed, it doesn’t surprise me as much. I had already been in contact with the team since the Tour of Hellas, and I’m happy that it ultimately led to my first WorldTour contract. I’m looking forward to really living like a professional athlete for the first time,” the German rider said in a press release.

“Being able to fully focus on my sport, combined with the support from internal experts, the use of the Athlete’s FoodCoach, the equipment, and the team’s experience are all things I hope will help me grow as a rider,” added Schiffer, who will already be racing against some of his future teammates in the upcoming Lidl Deutschland Tour.

Grischa Niermann, Head of Racing at Visma | Lease a Bike and responsible for recruitment, also sees promise in Schiffer. “We believe he still has a lot of room to improve in all areas. Based on the conversations we have had, we know he is a really good fit for us. Despite racing for a small team, he has already managed to take his first pro win. That clearly shows he has real talent. We’re looking forward to working with him and are pleased that we’ll be able to have him race with us starting in October.”

We believe he still has a lot of room to grow in all areas. From our conversations, it’s clear he’s a great fit for our team. Even though he’s been riding for a smaller outfit, he’s already claimed his first pro win. That shows he definitely has talent. We’re excited to start working with him and happy that he’ll already be joining us in October.” Schiffer will officially make the switch on October 1.