Visma-Lease a Bike Just Confirmed the Most Suprising Transfer of The Season So Far

Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed Friday it signed former Tour de France green jersey winner Fabio Jakobsen with immediate effect.

It could be one of the most off-key transfers of the 2026-27 transfer window – up there with Primoz Roglič’s possible move to team Lotto.

But it’s not altogether unexpected.

Rumors had been spreading for weeks that the down-on-his-luck Dutchman might sign to the super team of Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert.

The speculation reached fever pitch last week when the 29-year-old was released from his ongoing contract with Picnic-PostNL.

Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed the gossip Friday by revealing Jakobsen had signed a contract spanning through the end of 2027.

Team head of performance Mathieu Heijboer said Jakobsen – a 46-time winner with six grand tour stages on his palmares – would plug the gap left by Olav Kooij’s departure from the team this winter.

“We had been looking for a specialist for the pure flat sprints. The more we looked into Fabio’s situation, the more convinced we became that there is still a great deal of untapped potential,” Heijboer said Friday.

“We believe we can create the right environment to help him unlock it. At the same time, having Fabio join us now allows us to start working with Fabio straight away instead of waiting until next season.”

Can Visma-Lease a Bike bring Jakobsen back to full potential?

What makes the move so off-key?

The fact that while Jakobsen won the sprinter’s green jersey at the 2022 Tour de France, his form trended downward ever since.

Persistent health issues and a long time sidelined by double iliac artery surgery mean Jakobsen arrives at Visma-Lease a Bike with one win in three calendar years.

Visma-Lease a Bike said Friday that the one-time speed sensation will be put on a training fast track to put him in the best place for 2027.

“For the coming months, the focus will be on a gradual return to competition. It will be centered around rebuilding his condition, introducing him to the team’s training philosophy, nutrition program and way of working. The team wants to give him the time and structure he needs,” read the press note relased Friday..

Visma-Lease a Bike Women’s team also confirmed Friday it signed Femke Markus from SD Worx-Protime.

The Dutch classics specialist will slot in alongside the likes of Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot through 2028.