Does Visma | Lease a Bike already have successors to Van Empel and Vos? "You hope they can fulfill that role"

It was noticeable during Saturday's recon: Van Empel completed her laps while chatting and laughing with Wolff, who finished 6th two weeks ago in Kortrijk on her cyclo-cross debut for Visma | Lease a Bike. "She is a strong woman. In Kortrijk, she made a great start, and last year, she also rode very well, and she is carrying on that same trend well now. She is an outgoing girl who wants to improve daily." Boven outlined the British rider's profile in a few sentences.

With Wolff and Chladonova, respectively, third and second at the World Junior Time Trial Championships in Zurich, Visma | Lease a Bike has two top riders for different disciplines on its roster. Add to that Van Empel and Marianne Vos - of whom we do not yet know what she is doing this winter - and you are talking about a solid cyclo-cross team.

According to Boven, the choice to invest is a conscious one. "Eventually, some girls will leave the team, and there have to be new ladies ready to take over. You then bring in young girls with a specific profile, which you hope will enable them to fulfill that role," explains the cyclo-cross coach, who saw Wolff finish 20th in Dublin on Sunday.

How things will play out in the long run is still uncertain at the young ages of the two. "For now, two riders have shown very nice things in the juniors. Viktoria became a world champion and has been on the podium everywhere so that we will support them. Then, we'll see how the process goes and which project we embark on. For example, Fem now also remains stable twenty races in the year."

At the announcement of the two in September, Visma | Lease a Bike let Wolff and Chladonova speak for themselves. "I am super happy to ride for the team in the coming years. Ever since becoming a professional cyclist, I have dreamed of riding for one of the best teams in the world," revealed Wolff, who, like her peer, signed a three-year contract.

"I hope to learn as much as possible in the coming years, both on the road and in cyclo-cross. I like the challenge of making the step up to the professionals and riding new races. I hope I can learn a lot in the peloton during the races and eventually grow as a rider to a very high level," the British rider said.

"When I first spoke with the team, it was quickly clear that a lot of attention would be paid to my development. They had a clear plan for the coming years, without much pressure and with room to learn. This appealed to me," concluded Wolff, who saw Chladonova say similar words. "The development opportunities the team offers for young talents fit my future perfectly. It allows me to combine my favorite discipline, cyclo-cross, with road cycling."

The almost 18-year-old Chladonova joins Visma | Lease a Bike from January 1. "It will be a big change. I've been riding for a small family team for the past few years, and then to now join one of the biggest WorldTour teams will be a big change for me. I'm looking forward to riding for the team in the coming years, and I'm excited to have been given this opportunity," said the Slovakian.