South African rider Lisa Bone will join EF Education–Oatly from 2027 after signing a two-year contract through 2028. The 27-year-old steps up to the Women’s WorldTour following a successful season on the road and gravel, having developed her cycling career while working as a physiotherapist.
Bone won the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour and claimed silver medals in both the South African national road and gravel championships. She also finished inside the top ten at the Bucks County Classic in the United States.
Her gravel results have been equally impressive. Bone won the UCI Gravel World Series event Around the Pot by 16 minutes and finished second at The Ceder, establishing herself among South Africa’s strongest riders across both disciplines.
Despite that success, road cycling remains her priority.
“I have always wanted to ride for a WorldTour team and to ride at the pinnacle of the sport,” Bone said in EF’s announcement.
From field hockey and physiotherapy to the WorldTour
Bone’s route into professional cycling has been unconventional. Previously a competitive field hockey player, she took up cycling relatively recently while continuing to work full-time as a physiotherapist.
Opportunities to race on the road in South Africa have become increasingly limited, encouraging riders to compete in the country’s growing gravel scene. Although Bone enjoys gravel racing, she has been determined to pursue a professional road career.
EF Education–Oatly general manager Esra Tromp highlighted Bone’s determination to create opportunities outside the traditional European development pathway.
Her limited experience of international stage racing also leaves considerable room for development. Bone believes her strongest efforts currently come over one to five minutes but is looking forward to discovering how she performs on longer climbs and in multi-day races.
EF continue building 2027 squad
Bone becomes another new arrival at EF Education–Oatly, joining Bodine Vollering, who has signed from VolkerWessels through 2029.
The American squad have also recruited gravel specialist Melisa Rollins, another rider making the transition towards a more road-focused programme.
The signings reflect EF’s willingness to look beyond conventional development pathways when identifying potential WorldTour talent.
For Bone, the immediate challenge will be adapting to European racing, where larger pelotons, longer events and more demanding schedules will provide a different test from her previous experience.
Her two-year agreement gives her time to make that transition while concentrating fully on road racing for the first time.
