The 18-year-old Wiersma arrives from JEGG-SKIL-DJR, Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s suported junior team, where he has shown to have a strong season so far. He claimed victory in Paris-Roubaix Juniors this season and recently became third in the Dutch National Championships ITT Juniors.

In addition to his success on the bike, Wiersma is also an accomplished ice skater. With the signing, Team Visma | Lease a Bike shows its commitment in developing young talents, also coming through different disciplines. “We always look at the individual athlete and the path that suits them best. Thijs has shown that ice skating and cycling can complement each other, and we are happy to support him in finding the right balance. Our focus is on helping him unlock his full potential over the coming years”, says Robbert de Groot, Head of Development.

For Wiersma, joining the Development Team represents an important next step, not only for his career in cycling but also for himself as an athlete. "I am very pleased to be joining Team Visma | Lease a Bike Development," Wiersma says. "The team's vision on developing young riders fits well with my ambitions. During our conversations, I was impressed by the personal approach and the attention given to long-term development. I am also grateful that I will be able to continue combining cycling with speed skating. I believe that combination suits me well, and I look forward to continuing my development within this environment."