These are the measures taken by Visma-Lease a Bike against "bad luck"

Last year, there were many situations in which cyclists from Visma-Lease a Bike were involved in falls, some of them serious like the ones that took Wout van Aert out of competition in Dwars door Vlaanderen and La Vuelta; and the one of Jonas Vingegaard in Itzulia that affected him before the Tour de France. The technicians of Visma-Lease a Bike have set to work to try to prevent them or, in case they happen, to have less harmful effects.

Visma-Lease a Bike puts technology at the service of the cyclist to prevent falls

2024 was not a good year for Visma-Lease a Bike. Beyond the sporting results, poor compared to the absolute dominance they had in 2023, the problem was the multiple incidents suffered by their cyclists that limited their performance in competition. In addition to the two we mentioned before of Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard, Dylan van Baarle broke his collarbone and hip, Christophe Laporte was sick in the classics which ended with his abandonment of the Giro due to a fall, as did Cian Uiujdebroeks who was also forced to abandon La Vuelta, both due to illness.

Regarding the falls, Visma-Lease a Bike has decided to analyze the different causes of them and has sought measures that can, if not prevent them, at least anticipate them and in case one of their riders is involved, that their effects are minor.

RECOMENDADO

Van der Poel and the Alpecin-Deceuninck team will use Pirelli tires until 2029

Visma advances its calendars with Vingegaard doing the Tour and Vuelta or Pauline in Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo

When is it necessary to change the gear ratio of your bike and what size of chainring and cassette to choose?

Race Face joins the trend of short cranks with the new Era and Turbine models of 160 and 165 mm

The Orbea FOX Factory Racing enters a new dimension with Simon Andreassen and Bec Henderson as leaders of the new team

Lapierre turns the page and presents a new Lapierre Racing Unity with Anton Cooper and Chiara Teocchi as star signings

One of the most curious aspects to prevent falls is that the team has subjected its cyclists to different tests to determine the reaction speed of each of them, trying to determine if those with lower reaction speed are more prone to falls. Secondly, they have applied different mechanisms so that cyclists are able to work and improve their reaction speed so that they can respond more quickly to a sudden stop in the peloton, a fallen bidon, or any obstacle they encounter on the road.

Also, the incorporation of the van destined to function as a control room has the mission of trying to warn their cyclists as soon as possible of possible obstacles on the route or when a fall has occurred in a front group that allows anticipating a dangerous point.

Visma-Lease a Bike not only thinks about the safety of its cyclists in the race but they are also promoting the use of lights on bikes during training sessions since last year some of them were involved in traffic accidents that could have been avoided with them.

And what happens when a fall occurs? In this case, the idea is to ensure that the cyclist suffers fewer consequences. That is why the team is promoting that their cyclists practice some impact sport like running, which helps strengthen bone mass and can reduce the effects of falls, although in the case of Wout van Aert this measure did not help him much since, as we remember, the Belgian cyclist runs all year round, even in the middle of the Tour de France, taking advantage of rest days to put on his running shoes.

These are small grains of sand that, when added up, can make the difference that allows the team to have the maximum availability of its riders. We will see throughout 2025 if it proves effective.