Markus has proven herself in recent years as a strong and reliable rider in demanding one-day races, capping off her performances this season with victory at the Antwerp Port Epic. The Dutch rider feels most at home in races where the conditions are challenging and where the pace is high.

Growing up in The Netherlands in a sporting family, Markus discovered her passion for sport at an early age. She started out as a speed skater and was part of the Dutch junior national programme, but also developed a growing love for cycling. Eventually, she made the switch to cycling and grew into a consistent presence in the women’s peloton.

For Markus, joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike means entering a new environment where she can continue to develop herself. "What appeals to me about Team Visma | Lease a Bike is the knowledge and expertise that are present within the team. I am looking forward to learning from that and continuing to develop myself. With support from The Athlete’s FoodCoach and an approach that is strongly based on science, I believe I can still take steps forward here," she explains.

Team Manager Rutger Tijssen is pleased with Markus’ arrival: "Femke is a rider who perfectly fits the profile we were looking for within our classics squad. In recent years, she has shown that she performs well in selective races and challenging conditions. At the same time, we believe there is still room for further development within our environment, and we are looking forward to taking the next steps together with Femke."

Markus feels at her best when the race is made hard. "I really love classics, echelons and tough races," she says. "I am a bit of a powerhouse rider. I really enjoy it when a race becomes difficult and the strongest rider wins. As a rider, I am above all a team player. I want to win together with the team and always get the best out of myself." She combines that role as a team player with personal ambitions for the coming years. "I would like to continue developing in the classics, but I also really enjoy being a reliable foundation within the team, someone the team can always count on."

It comes as no surprise that the spring classics are the races that appeal to her most. "My favourite race is Paris-Roubaix, but I also get a lot of energy from races like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Nokere Koerse and In Flanders Fields. I am always a little nervous before an echelon race, but once you are in it, it is such a great feeling. Riding on the limit, fighting for position and creating the race together is something I really enjoy. My biggest dream? To win Paris-Roubaix."

Tijssen sees Markus as an important addition to the spring classics squad: "Femke is a rider who has proven herself over several years in classics and races where the difference is made through strength and race intelligence. We have seen that she performs well when the race is made hard and the conditions are challenging. That is something we can use well in the spring."