Bart Lemmen has extended his contract with Team Visma | Lease a Bike through to the end of 2029, securing his place in the Dutch squad for another three seasons.
The 30-year-old has developed rapidly since making the unusual move from a military career into professional cycling and has become an increasingly valuable part of Visma’s climbing and stage-race group.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed Lemmen’s new contract on Friday, continuing a run of long-term roster decisions that also saw Edoardo Affini extend through 2029 this week.
Earlier this season, Lemmen played an important support role during Jonas Vingegaard’s overall victory at the Giro d’Italia before underlining his own progression with a stage victory at the Tour de Pologne.
“I’m really happy to have extended my contract with the team and that I’ll continue to be part of Team Visma | Lease a Bike,” Lemmen said. “After three years, the team feels like a second home to me.”
Visma believe Lemmen still has room to improve
Lemmen’s value comes partly from his versatility. He has developed into a dependable climbing domestique capable of supporting Grand Tour leaders while becoming increasingly capable of taking his own opportunities.
Head of Racing Marc Reef believes that development is not finished.
“Bart’s story is a special one,” Reef said. “He has shown that with dedication, an open mindset and the right environment, it is possible to make enormous steps in a relatively short period of time.”
“We believe he has not yet reached his ceiling.”
His Tour de Pologne stage victory this season provided further evidence that Lemmen can contribute more than domestique work when given freedom.
Lemmen becomes another long-term part of the Visma core
The extension keeps Lemmen with Visma through what should be some of the strongest years of his career.
His new deal follows Affini’s extension and reinforces the importance the team are placing on retaining experienced riders around their major leaders. Visma have also been active elsewhere in the market, including the recent arrival of Fabio Jakobsen on a deal through 2028.
“Bart is a rider who fully embraces the way we work, is an incredibly valuable teammate and continues to develop every season,” Reef said.
Lemmen’s extension will be tracked alongside the other confirmed deals in ProCyclingUK’s men’s cycling transfers hub.
For Lemmen, the decision to stay appears straightforward.
“I’m very grateful for the trust the team has shown in me,” he said, “and I’m looking forward to continuing this journey together until 2029.”
