Visma-Lease a Bike have signed Britain’s Dan McLay as an important leadout man for sprinter Olav Kooij after the anticipated return of Mike Teunissen fell by and he signed with Astana Qazaqstan.
32-year-old McLay was Arnaud Démare’s lead out man at Arkéa-B&B Inns however his contract was not prolonged because the French crew tried to chop prices.
McLay’s arrival at Visma-Lease a Bike means the Dutch WorldTour crew nonetheless has one place to fill if it decides to achieve the utmost crew dimension of 30 riders. Nonetheless, in 2024, the crew made do with 28 riders.
“Dan McLay’s expertise and expertise align completely with our objectives, and we’re assured that he’ll make a major influence. He’s a really skilled lead-out, and that’s precisely what we had been in search of,” senior directeur sportif Grischa Niermann stated.
“Particularly, he has executed some spectacular lead-outs for Démare within the Tour, and we hope that he can do the identical for Olav Kooij in our crew subsequent season.”
McLay turned skilled with Bretagne-Séché Environnement in 2015 and has raced for the French squad each season since aside from a two-year spell at EF in 2018 and 2019.
He has gained ten occasions and secured quite a few placings throughout his profession however has transitioned right into a lead-out position lately.
His expertise within the Classics might see McLay additionally play a job within the Visma-Lease a Classics group that features Wout van Aert, Christophe Laporte and the USA’s Matteo Jorgenson.
“I’m trying ahead to becoming a member of the crew. Crew Visma-Lease a Bike has an incredible observe document in creating riders and regardless of being on the older finish of the event curve I nonetheless suppose there’s room to enhance,” stated McClay.
“My ambitions are to do the perfect job potential for the crew and particularly within the lead-out for Olav.”
