Take20 hours ago
Van Belle leaves Visma-Lease a Bike for continental BEAT
Loe van Belle leaves Visma-Lease a Bike after three WorldTour seasons and signs for continental team BEAT CC p/b Saxo for 2027. He puts the development shortfall on both sides: «…I think things could have been done better, both from the team and from myself.» The team has already brought in Mark Donovan and Matisse van Kerckhove to replace the departing riders.
What this means
Van Belle goes from WorldTour to continental level for 2027, and he hopes to return to the professional ranks in the future. Visma-Lease a Bike's 2027 roster stood at 28 riders after the Donovan signing.
Visma-Lease a Bike chose not to extend Van Belle's expiring contract, and Wielerflits reported the move on 2026-10-24. After his iliac artery surgery he had made progress on the bike and hoped for a renewal. In early October he was the only 2026 rider without a confirmed 2027 contract, and the team announced Donovan, 27, on a two-year deal as its first new signing. Van Belle never raced a Grand Tour with the team, was mostly used as a domestique and picked up a handful of top-10 results. He still looks back on the years «…with a good feeling», yet says «I should have been more professional in taking responsibility for my own career.» Apart from the retiring Steven Kruijswijk, he is the only rider leaving the men's team this winter.
Sources
‘I think things could have been done better’ - Visma-Lease a Bike departee regrets slow development on Dutch team as he drops to continental level for 2027Loe van Belle van Visma | Lease a Bike naar BEAT CyclingVisma-Lease a Bike look to realise 'untapped potential' of British rider Mark Donovan as first new signing for 2027
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