Niermann shares his thoughts on new Visma | LaB talent: "I like to be surprised, but..."

Grischa Niermann, who took over the sporting leadership within the team following Merijn Zeeman's move to AZ, shared with the Dutch outlet Wieler Revue his expectations for the young riders joining his team next year. "They all have potential. Matthew Brennan, Jørgen Nordhagen and Niklas Behrens have shown that they can really win, while Menno Huising and Tijmen Graat are also very good riders."

"They will be brought along carefully," said the German, who, in his capacity as a rider and team leader, has witnessed considerable talent over the past 25 years. "I like to be surprised, but we don't expect any of these five to suddenly win a WorldTour race."

The still-only 19-year-old Nordhagen has long been regarded as the next big thing, and Visma | Lease a Bike was quick to offer him a long-term contract a few years ago. "Does Jørgen have the potential to grow to the level of Jonas Vingegaard? He certainly does," Niermann stated, albeit with a caveat.

"Jørgen is much further along than Jonas was at that age, but yes, someone like Jonas only comes along once in a hundred years," he acknowledged. "Jørgen has shown promising things, but whether he is a candidate to win a grand tour in the future is still impossible to say. He is on the right path, but he is not a Remco Evenepoel type, from whom we expect big wins in his first year, like in San Sebastián."