Welshman Owain Doull has signed a two-year deal to hitch Visma-Lease a Bike in 2026 so as to add expertise to each their Classics squad and Matthew Brennan’s lead-out practice, the Dutch workforce introduced on Tuesday.
Off the again of one of many most interesting neo-pro seasons in historical past, which has seen Brennan take 12 skilled wins to this point – together with 4 on the WorldTour degree – the Brit will get added help for a compatriot throughout his second season at Visma within the type of Doull.
Doull himself has tasted success on the highest degree on the monitor, as a part of the Staff GB quartet that rode to Olympic Gold in Rio on the 2016 Video games, alongside Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy and Steven Burke, however has primarily performed the domestique function as a street skilled.
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He is raced for Staff Sky and most lately EF Training-EasyPost, with high outcomes of a stage win on the Tour de la Provence and second on the 2019 version of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, however will likely be targeted on serving to the likes of Brennan throughout his time in yellow and black.
“I’m very excited in regards to the alternative I’m getting right here with the most effective groups on this planet,” mentioned Doull in Visma’s announcement.
“I’m already extremely motivated after I take into consideration subsequent season. I’m trying ahead to supporting Matthew Brennan within the flat sprints, taking part in a task in his lead-out and within the classics.
“On the similar time, I additionally wish to uncover how a lot room for development I nonetheless have myself. Bodily, I’m nonetheless getting stronger, even after 9 years within the WorldTour. Final season was my finest to this point, and I anticipate that I can take one other step ahead with this workforce.”
Doull raced all the WT Flemish cobbled races this previous season, and Paris-Roubaix, which included supporting Neilson Powless earlier than his inconceivable victory towards three Visma-Lease a Bike riders at Dwars door Vlaanderen, together with Wout van Aert.
“I’ve beloved my time in pink at EF Professional Biking and have shared some unbelievable moments right here,” mentioned Doull on his Instagram.
“I really feel I’ve been given the possibility to search out my voice as a rider on this workforce and have reminiscences I’ll cherish for a lifetime. From all of the riders to the employees I wish to say thanks. I’ve beloved each minute of it it. I’ve learnt a lot which I plan on taking with me into the long run.”
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Doull has began 17 Monuments to this point in his lengthy profession, so will definitely know his method across the hardest cobbled occasions, and will play a key early function in controlling and defending the likes of Van Aert and Matteo Jorgenson in spring subsequent season. He is additionally completed 4 of the 5 Grand Excursions he is began, so he ought to play an necessary helper function in the summertime, too.
“Along with his expertise on the highest degree, he’ll completely strengthen our workforce,” mentioned Visma’s head of racing, Grischa Niermann.
“Owain confirmed final 12 months that he can nonetheless be aggressive within the spring classics. We additionally anticipate that he can proceed to enhance bodily inside our workforce. However his most necessary function will likely be to information our younger skills within the classics and sprints.”
Doull is one in every of 4 Brits confirmed on Visma’s roster for 2026, alongside Giro d’Italia winner Simon Yates, Ben Tulett and Brennan.
