The Dutchman has only spent one season in the professional ranks but has impressed the people at Jumbo-Visma. CEO Richard Plugge's team has good experience with riders who have taken atypical routes to the top level of cycling. Tests and interviews have convinced the team that Lemmen is a strong rider who can hold his own in the WorldTour peloton.

"We are very excited to see how he will develop as he gets to know our training programme", says sportive director Merijn Zeeman, who believes in his compatriot's potential. "Bart has only recently started cycling as an elite sport. Before that, he did intensive military training and combined cycling with a demanding job in defence. That was the trigger for us. Despite little training and coaching, he has shown interesting things in races, and his physical values show tremendous potential."

Lemmen is excited about the opportunity. "I am really looking forward to this new chapter in my atypical cycling career. At the beginning of the year, going from being an Air Force officer to a full-time professional cyclist was quite a change. Over the past few months, I've made great strides physically and in adjusting to life as a professional athlete. It's great that it's paying off and that Team Jumbo-Visma sees my potential. I am proud to have the chance to give it my all over the next two seasons, and I am confident that it will be a success. I look forward to achieving results with the team and developing as much as possible as a rider."

Lemmen has good credentials, especially in time trials and on hilly courses. "The development process with the team will show where I can be of most value. I expect it to be an excellent voyage of discovery. I am looking forward to working with the team in preparation and the races", Lemmen concludes.