Visma | Lease a Bike signs 17-year-old super talent: son of Armstrong's former domestique

Cycling
Monday, 23 December 2024 at 11:25
Visma Lease a Bike

Visma | Lease a Bike has signed a contract with Ashlin Barry. The 17-year-old American is considered one of the biggest talents of his generation in his own country. After one year with his current team, JEGG Skil DJR, he will transfer to the Dutch formation in 2026, where he may join the WorldTour team immediately.

Visma | Lease a Bike announced the signing on its own website. "We see immense talent in Ashlin, along with significant room for growth," says Robbert de Groot, head of development at the team. "We are therefore very pleased that he will be part of our team in the coming years. This is the first time we have signed someone so young directly for our WorldTeam. It reflects our confidence in Ashlin's potential and underscores our belief in long-term collaborations."

The unique agreement makes Barry very proud. "Team Visma | Lease a Bike is truly a dream team. It's incredibly inspiring to sign with the same team as riders like Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard. They are great examples of how you can develop further within this team. Of course, I'm still very young and in the process of discovering my specialties. I believe the classics and time trials might suit me best, but I'm confident that this team is the perfect choice to guide me on that journey."

Read more below the Post!

Ashlin is son of Michael Barry, ex-US Postal rider

"Whether and how long he will race for the Development Team and when he will step up to the WorldTour will depend on his progress," De Groot says. "Thanks to our development pyramid, which includes a junior, development, and WorldTeam, we can remain flexible and offer riders like Ashlin a tailored pathway to further their growth." The 17-year-old Barry is the son of Canadian former pro Michael Barry and American former cyclist Dede Demet. Father Michael was a teammate of Lance Armstrong with US Postal Service in his early years as a pro, and was caught taking drugs in 2012. In the case against Armstrong, he was one of the former teammates who testified against the American.

Latest Cycling News

Popular Cycling News

Latest Comments