Visbeek didn’t want to lose him, but the Baltic top talent is now riding in EF pink

For many men, the Volta ao Algarve was the ultimate race to prepare for the season's opening weekend. That was also the case for Madis Mikhels. Last winter, the 21-year-old Estonian transferred to EF Education-EasyPost from Intermarché-Wanty, which allowed him to take advantage of his good 2024. IDLProCycling.com spoke to the man from one of the Baltic states in Portugal.

In 2022, Mikhels, who was barely 19 years old at the time, took his first steps in the professional peloton with Intermarché-Wanty after finishing third in the junior cycling world championships in Leuven. The Walloon team's move paid off, as he immediately finished in the top ten in the Gran Piemonte and at the U23 world championships in Wollongong, Australia.

In his first full professional season, Mikhels immediately won a stage in the Tour of Germany, after which he rode several times in the top ten in major races such as the Tour Down Under, Paris-Nice, Giro d'Italia and the Scheldeprijs in 2024. He also finished a strong third at the European Championships in Belgian Limburg, behind Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij.

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Mikhels had options after good year at Intermarché-Wanty

With his contract expiring, Mikhels was in a good negotiating position after his performances. Intermarché-Wanty was unable to match their financial offer, so Aike Visbeek's team could not reap the benefits of the Mikhels story. "Madis didn't want to leave, but in the end, it's about your budget. He's a rider you don't want to lose," Visbeek explained on the team's media day.

In the end, Mikhels chose EF Education-EasyPost. "Madis is a good, loyal guy," Visbeek said, explaining his former protégé. "He came to us from Estonia with a lot of talent and chose us. If he looks at his bank account every month, I think he'll be happy that he took the step to the WorldTour with us."

Mikhels, for his part, has some nice words for his former team. "Aike understood me too. They had budget problems, and in the end, there wasn't a chance that I could stay. Was it a disappointment for me, too? So so. Of course, it was a great team, and I would have liked to have stayed, but a new step was also good for me. So far, I have no regrets."

'Intermarché-Wanty is a smaller team compared to EF Education-EasyPost. "It's a fairly significant change. The youngster explains that I must adjust, but I'm managing well. 'In terms of training, it hasn't suddenly become completely different or anything, but it is a much more international team. Intermarché-Wanty was more of a team that focused on one country."

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Mikhels has only one goal: "Win races"

With EF Education-EasyPost, Mikhels rode several top ten finishes in his first races in France and Portugal, but he wants more. "What are my goals? I only have one goal: to win races. I can't make it any easier than that. I don't care which race; I just want to win. That's what the team will expect of me, too."

The fast man from Estonia is known as a sprinter with character. EF Education-EasyPost will also use him in the spring. "I am part of the team's classic core and will, therefore, also ride all the big races. Except for Milan-Sanremo, at least for the time being. We have a strong team, so that gives us many opportunities. We can pursue success in different ways. Several guys can make their move along the way, while I can save some energy for the sprints. That's a good thing."

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EF boss expects Mikhels to win Paris-Roubaix one day

EF has high expectations for the cyclist. "With Madis, I honestly think he can win Paris-Roubaix one year," said team boss Jonathan Vaughters. "At this point, it's a little undefined as to what sort of rider he is, but he's only 21. He's not yet pulled off a big win, but he's shown to compete in long races and freelance in field sprints."

"He's the perfect rider for us," the American said. "He can mix it with the best in the classics and the reduced bunch sprints. He can be a productive member of a multi-pronged approach in the classics, for sure."

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