Team Visma | Lease a Bike is making some surprising race decisions, leaving fans and riders alike wondering about their strategy. But is it a calculated move or a risky gamble?
The team has already had the fewest race days in the 2025 World Tour season, and now they've decided to skip two prominent spring classics: the Ronde van Brugge and De Brabantse Pijl. This choice is particularly intriguing, given the team's potential to excel in these races.
De Brabantse Pijl, a challenging race with steep climbs and cobbled sectors, saw Wout van Aert finish second to Remco Evenepoel last year. But here's where it gets controversial: despite this impressive result, the team won't be participating this time around. This decision is unexpected, especially since it's not a World Tour event, allowing the team to field development riders.
As for the Ronde van Brugge, formerly known as Classic Brugge - De Panne, the team could have a strong chance of victory with Matthew Brennan. This Belgian classic favors sprinters and is often influenced by strong winds. A twist in the tale: although it's a World Tour event, the top division teams aren't required to participate due to its recent addition to the calendar.
Despite these absences, Team Visma | Lease a Bike can still target success elsewhere. They will start Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with van Aert, Brennan, and Christophe Laporte, followed by Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne for Laporte and Brennan, and Le Samyn for van Aert and Laporte, where they are expected to be early favorites. The team has faced setbacks with injuries and illnesses, but March looks promising with Jonas Vingegaard's return at Paris-Nice.
And this is the part most people miss: while the team's strategy might seem unconventional, it could be a well-thought-out plan to manage rider fatigue and focus on specific goals. Or, it might be a risky approach that could backfire. What do you think? Is this a genius move or a potential disaster?
