Team Visma | Lease a Bike looks to final monument of the year with optimism
Team Visma | Lease a Bike heads into Il Lombardia with hopes of delivering a strong performance after promising showings in Giro dell’Emilia, Coppa Bernocchi and Tre Valli Varesine. Tiesj Benoot and sports director Marc Reef share their thoughts ahead of the fifth and final monument of the season.
When the bells ring atop the Madonna del Ghisallo and thousands of passionate cycling fans cheer on the passing riders, it can only mean one thing: Il Lombardia is here. The “Race of the Falling Leaves” marks the end of the Italian fall classics in style, always combining breathtaking scenery with brutal climbs. This year will be no exception.
With a lineup featuring the in-form Cian Uijtdebroeks and Ben Tulett alongside Sepp Kuss and Tiesj Benoot, Team Visma | Lease a Bike enter the race without a clear favorite but with strength in numbers.
“Lombardia is a huge race, so we’re really motivated to perform here. It’s also a really hard race. The decisive climb this year, Passo di Ganda, is massive, especially after such a long day. We’re bringing a strong team. Cian and Ben are going well, and Tiesj gets better the harder the race is, so hopefully they can all play a role in the finale,” says sports director Marc Reef.
"Cian and Ben are going well, and Tiesj gets better the harder the race is, so hopefully they can all play a role in the finale"
Benoot returns to the team after illness kept him out of the World Championships. A resilient ride at the European Championships last weekend proved that the Belgian is already back at a high level, and he’s eager to finish his season and time with the team on a high note in Italy.
“The atmosphere in the race is amazing, and the area is beautiful, even though the climbs are a bit too hard for me,” Benoot smiles. “It’s the perfect race for climbers, especially when we finish in Bergamo like this year. I really want to end the season with a good feeling. The race is very honest, so you just hope to have a good day.”
Il Lombardia not only marks the end of the season for Benoot, but also the end of his time with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Since joining the team in 2022, he has played a key role in both the classics and stage races, proving himself a consistent performer and a well-respected teammate.
“It will be special, because I’ve really felt at home in this team,” Benoot reflects. “It’s a bit sad, but we’ll see each other on the road next year, and I’ll take with me all the great memories and relationships I’ve built here.”
