Team Visma | Lease a Bike welcomes new young sports director
Gaëtan Pons will join Team Visma | Lease a Bike as a sports director from next season. The 32-year-old Luxembourger has spent the past two years at Unibet Tietema Rocket and already has six years of experience behind the wheel despite his age.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike is reinforcing its line-up of sports directors.
Starting January 1st, Gaëtan Pons will be handing out instructions from the car behind, and the former professional is welcomed with open arms into the Dutch team.
“Gaëtan is a young, talented, and ambitious sports director. He already has a lot of experience in the car, and we’re happy to have him on board. We look forward to a great future together,” Grischa Niermann, Head of Racing, remarks.
Pons himself has just become a father for the second time and therefore already has his hands full. Nonetheless, he doesn’t hide his excitement about stepping up to the WorldTour as a sports director after spending four years with Leopard Pro Cycling and two with the rapidly growing Unibet Tietema Rockets.
“I’m really excited to be joining the team. I can’t wait to meet everyone. It’s a big new challenge, and I have to get used to fighting to win the Tour de France and not just fighting to get a spot there. But I think that suits me really well, as I always want to win. I love the adrenaline that comes with victory, so hopefully I’ve come to the right team,” Pons laughs.
"I have to get used to fighting to win the Tour de France, and not just fighting to get a spot there."
“When I met with Grischa Niermann and Jacco Verhaeren, we were quickly aligned. My experience as a rider just below WorldTour level taught me how it feels to be on the bike, which helps when talking with the riders. At the same time, I want to bring a good atmosphere to the team. I always try to bring people together, as I believe they perform better in a safe environment.”
‘Ponsi’, as he is often called by colleagues and friends, rode for Continental teams like Wallonie-Bruxelles and Leopard Pro Cycling in his early twenties before deciding to hold the radio in his hands rather than put it in his ears. Leopard encouraged him to try himself out as a sports director for their team of unpolished talents, which he agreed to. He fell in love with the role right away. In 2024, Pons moved to Unibet Tietema Rockets and saw them grow into a team now competing for a spot at the 2026 Tour de France. Everywhere he goes, he brings his passion for the sport, and he assures that will also be the case at Team Visma | Lease a Bike.
