“A victory in the holy week of cycling”, Niermann pronounces aloud. “That is once again our big goal for the coming spring. The Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix are the races where we most want to score. Of course, the spring is not just about Flanders and Roubaix, but the climax is on these two races. We will pursue that dream again this year. I hope everything goes our way for once that week.” 

The head of racing is referring to Team Visma | Lease a Bike's setbacks in recent years. In 2024, the crash of leader Wout van Aert in Dwars Door Vlaanderen threw a spanner in the works for a top classification in the holy week of cycling. “Crashes are simply part of cycling. In recent seasons we have shown resilience. For example, look at how Matteo Jorgenson eventually won Dwars Door Vlaanderen after Wout's crash. Joy and sorrow were so close together there. We showed resilience and demonstrated that we have several winners in the team”, Niermann says.

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One of those stars, Jan Tratnik, last year's winner of Omloop het Nieuwsblad, left the Dutch cycling formation this winter. On the other hand, the arrival of Niklas Behrens will strengthen the team for the classics. The young German rider crowned himself world road champion in Zurich among the U23s and is a rider with incredible potential. Niermann about his compatriot: “We brought Niklas with an eye on the future. We do not expect him to make the difference in the biggest races yet. At the hand of our leaders he will get the chance to develop himself in our team.”  

Team Visma | Lease a Bike talents ready for first season at highest level

Van Aert will also be the leader in the biggest classics in the spring of 2025. The Belgian wants to approach the first cycling months of the year the same way as how it was planned for 2024. “The opening weekend will be the first big appointment. Then, after another training camp, we will go all out for victory in Flanders and Roubaix. That has been a dream of mine and the team for a long time. The fact that I was back at top level in the Vuelta a España after my crash in Flanders last year, gives a lot of confidence for now that I will be at my best again in the classics”, the 30-year-old rider says.

After cycling year full of setbacks, Van Aert wants to shine in 2025

“In addition to Wout, we have a strong collective for the classics with Matteo, Tiesj, Christophe, Dylan and Per”, Niermann knows. “From the Omloop onwards, we have to be there with a strong team. In recent seasons, we dominated the opening weekend and were the strongest three times in a row in Omloop het Nieuwsblad and twice in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. The fact that we did that with four different winners (Wout van Aert, Dylan van Baarle, Tiesj Benoot and Jan Tratnik) shows the quality of our team for the classics. Olav Kooij will also be our top priority in a number of races. He is one of our weapons, especially in the classics that can end in a sprint with a large group.”

Kooij motivated towards new season: 'Stage win in Giro gave me confidence'

The head of racing for Team Visma | Lease a Bike knows when the spring-season is successful. “Of course, it will be a complete success if we win the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. Purely in terms of results, of course we want to win one of those big races, but as a team we also look beyond that. If, for example, our young guys Per Strand Hagenes and Niklas Behrens make a very nice progress and we can then think that they will become our leaders for the classics within a few years, that is also worth something.”