Visma | Lease a Bike women under review: Big names are leaving, but Ferrand-Prévot and fresh talent are joining

As the teams settle into their training camps in Spain to prepare for 2025, they’re likely also reflecting on 2024. What went well, and what could be improved? IDLProCycling.com is also looking back on the season, team by team. Up next, in this article: the Visma | Lease a Bike women’s team!

One-day races 2024: Visma | Lease a Bike women

Like their male counterparts, the Visma | Lease a Bike women’s team aimed for success in the Tour of Flanders and, especially, Paris-Roubaix — one of the few major races Marianne Vos has yet to win. The versatile Dutch leader finished fourth in both Monuments, falling short of the team's goals.

However, it would be unfair to call the spring campaign a failure. Vos claimed victories in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Amstel Gold Race, and Dwars door Vlaanderen. Meanwhile, young rider Rosita Reijnhout delivered a big surprise early in the year by winning the Deakin University Women’s Race in Australia.

The team also made an impact in other major races, such as the Flèche Wallonne (Fem van Empel, eighth), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (Vos, seventh), and Strade Bianche (Riejanne Markus, seventh).

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(Grand) tours 2024: Visma | Lease a Bike women

The Tour de France Femmes was the primary goal for Riejanne Markus this year, but the Dutch rider peaked too early in the season and ultimately couldn’t compete for a strong GC result. Marianne Vos salvaged the team's Tour campaign by bringing the green jersey back to the Netherlands, though she was unable to win a stage in the biggest cycling race in the world.

In the Vuelta, however, Vos found her winning form, taking two stage victories. Markus also excelled, finishing second overall. Spain proved fruitful for the team in general, as Vos also claimed the overall win at the Volta a Catalunya Femines, while young riders like Maud Oudeman and Rosita Reijnhout impressed in the Vuelta a Burgos. Additionally, Femke de Vries emerged as a pleasant surprise, delivering strong performances along the way.

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Final rating 2024 Visma | Lease a Bike women

While the Visma | Lease a Bike women’s team didn’t achieve all their biggest goals, they can still be proud of their results, especially considering their predominantly young roster. The (current and former) editorial team of IDLProCycling.com gives the team a final grade of 7.3.

Transfers 2024/2025: Visma | Lease a Bike women

The departure of Riejanne Markus and Anna Henderson to Lidl-Trek has cost the team significant horsepower. Both riders contributed strongly in time trials, classics, and stage races, and their absence will be felt in 2025.

On the other hand, the addition of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is a massive gain. A rider capable of excelling in almost any discipline, Ferrand-Prévot joins the team with a view to winning the Tour de France Femmes — a goal the team has now openly set for the first time. With insights from her partner Dylan van Baarle, Ferrand-Prévot is expected to elevate the entire squad.

The team also strengthened its roster with the speedy Italian Marta Fidanza, as well as three top young talents: Marion Brunel, Viktoria Chladonova, and Imogen Wolff. Brunel won the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes, while Chladonova and Wolff both reached the podium in the junior time trial World Championships.

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Incoming: Pauline Férrrand-Prévot (INEOS Grenadiers), Marta Fidanza (Ceratizit-VNT), Marion Brunel (St Michel - Mavic - Auber93), Viktoria Chladonova and Imogen Wolff (juniors)

Outgoing (provisional list): Riejanne Markus and Anna Henderson (Lidl-Trek)

Ones to watch 2025: Visma | Lease a Bike women

Visma | Lease a Bike is not a team that takes the easy route, and that will be evident in their goals for 2025. Marianne Vos will continue to lead the way in the spring classics, while Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is expected to chase down the Tour de France Femmes title.

Behind these ladies is a young team, with ten of the 18 riders under the age of 24. Promising talents like Fem van Empel, Lieke Nooijen, Rosita Reijnhout, and Maud Oudeman are poised to make further progress. Meanwhile, debutants Marion Brunel, Viktoria Chladonova, and Imogen Wolff may need time to adjust to the elite level in their first year on the team.

It’s an intriguing team overall, with Sophie von Berswordt (28) and Femke de Vries (30) entering just their second full seasons as pro riders. From the outside, there seems to be plenty of potential upside.

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(Preliminary) selection Visma | Lease a Bike women 2025

1. Carlijn Achtereekte
2. Marion Brunel
3. Viktoria Chladonova
4. Femke de Vries
5. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot
6. Marta Fidanza
7. Mijntje Geurts
8. Lieke Nooijen
9. Maud Oudeman
10. Rosita Reijnhout
11. Linda Riedmann
12. Eva van Agt
13. Fem van Empel
14. Nienke Veenhoven
15. Margaux Vieux
16. Sophie von Berswordt
17. Marianne Vos
18. Imogen Wolff

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