🎥 Vocsnor joins yellow and black! Visma | LaB officially strengthens its team with Campenaerts (to the great satisfaction of Van Aert)

It's official: Victor Campenaerts will represent the colors of Visma | Lease a Bike next year. The Belgian native, originally from Antwerp, is transferring from Lotto-Dstny, where he rode for several seasons.

The announcement came on Monday afternoon, during the first rest day of the Vuelta a España. During this Spanish stage race, Campenaerts records a vlog almost daily. This time, it was a special one, as he stood next to the bus of the killer bees, as shown in a video which was also posted on the X account of Visma | LaB.

Van Aert happy with transfer Campenaerts: "Could use another engine"

"This time, it’s a special vlog. I’m here next to a familiar bus," begins the 32-year-old Belgian, pointing to the bus of his soon-to-be team. "It’s a familiar bus because, of course, I also rode for the team in 2016 and 2017."

For a playful twist in the video, Campenaerts then calls out to his regional and national teammate Wout van Aert. "Wout, are you on the bus?" we hear Vocsnor shout, after which the green jersey wearer walks out of the bus, and a pleasant conversation follows. "What would you say if I joined your team next year?" asks Campenaerts, to which Van Aert gives a positive response: "I could use another engine!"

Niermann praises qualities of Campenaerts

"Then that’s what we’ll do," continued Campenaerts. "Welcome, mate," replied Van Aert. On the team website of the yellow-black formation, more details were given about the transfer, which actually seemed to have been settled for some time now. "We still know Victor well from his previous time with the team and have kept in good contact since then," said team leader Grischa Niermann.

"He is a very strong rider, with a good time trial, as he proved again in this Tour de France," the German coach continued his praise. "By now, he is also a very experienced rider known for his pursuit of innovations. We can really use that experience. We see him as a very valuable asset for the team in that regard, due to his experience and physical capabilities."

Campenaerts himself was, of course, very happy with the transfer or rather his return to the old nest. "Throughout my career, I have always set ambitious but realistic goals. I have often achieved them, like in this past Tour de France. My ultimate goal is to one day win the Tour de France. I am not capable of doing so myself, but I can be a successful part of the team that achieves that victory. And with that goal, you naturally look to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. I hope I can make the Tour squad next year. This team is the benchmark when it comes to stage racing, so I’m very happy to return."