Visma | Lease a Bike loses talented Dane Nørtoft: "No longer part of development team"

Morten Nørtoft will leave Visma | Lease a Bike. The 22-year-old Dane rode for the Dutch formation's development team in recent years but failed to break through. Now, he will step back and ride for the continental ColoQuick from his own country in 2025. After Johannes Staune-Mittet's departure, the team lost a second talented Scandinavian.

Speaking to Feldet.dk, Nørtoft talks about his experience at Visma | Lease a Bike. "It was a great experience to be part of the set-up of one of the biggest cycling teams in the world. Even though I had a development contract, I got everything the pros got. Except the cool paycheck," he laughs. "I'm very happy I belonged to the team and grew in many ways. I learned much about nutrition, training, and what's generally good for me. I thought I already knew it but quickly learned I didn't."

The reason he has to leave the Dutch team? "Next season, I will no longer be a U23 rider, and that means I cannot be part of the development team at Visma | Lease a Bike. In that case, I must admit that I was not good enough to be offered a place on Visma's World Tour team," says a candid Nørtoft. At Visma, he was occasionally allowed to taste the big work, but a breakthrough did not happen.

Read more below the photo!

Talented Norwegian Johannes Staune-Mittet is also leaving Visma | Lease a Bike.

"The results just were not good enough"

"I had hoped for it, of course, but I also have to be honest and admit that my results have not been good enough," he continues. "It is, of course, sad, but I take with me that I have become a better rider in recent years." He will take those experiences with him to Danish ColoQuick. He will be allowed more opportunities to ride for his chances, which was not the case with Visma | Lease a Bike. "They can offer me freedom and the belief that I can also race for results. I was often told: 'You can't ride for your own result nowadays because here we have other plans," states the young Dane.

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