Stepping into the world of professional cycling, young riders at Team Visma | Lease a Bike are experiencing a unique blend of awe and accessibility. For Francesco Baruzzi and Fabio Segatta, both 18 and new to the Dutch team's development structure, the initial weeks have been transformative. They now share hotels, training camps, and conversations with riders they once admired from afar, now their teammates.
Segatta, in a conversation with Bici.Pro, expressed the profound impact of this proximity: "It really makes you think. It's beautiful. Even just talking with Piganzoli and Affini is emotional. These are riders I was watching on television until yesterday, and now they’re teammates."
This sentiment resonates with other riders at Visma. The team's culture emphasizes accessibility rather than hierarchy. Baruzzi, reflecting on his idol, Van Aert, said, "Van Aert has always been my idol. Seeing him and speaking to him is something that doesn’t happen every day. It’s an emotion and a memory that will stay with me forever."
The openness extends beyond the riders to the staff and directors. Baruzzi noted, "There’s incredible availability from everyone. Staff, directors, teammates. The impact of joining a team like this is huge, but everyone helps you."
This pattern of accessibility is consistent with the team's approach. Davide Piganzoli and Matthew Brennan have also spoken about the importance of dialogue and support. The team ensures that newcomers feel integrated into the structure quickly.
Baruzzi and Segatta's integration goes beyond racing. They are learning the ins and outs of being professionals, from travel schedules to training camps in Norway and Spain. Baruzzi said, "Saying it sounds trivial, but we know everything. Where we start racing, when we travel, and when to take the plane. Even the tickets for camps arrive two months in advance. You learn a lot, even just travelling alone through airports."
This educational phase is crucial for their development. Baruzzi emphasized, "Being here is a starting point. It means you are maybe one step higher, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of work to do. We’ll be put in the best conditions to reach where we dream of getting, which is the professional level."
The team's stars serve as reference points rather than barriers. Segatta noted, "It’s special just to wear this jersey. Even going home and training with it, people notice. It makes you proud, but it also makes you understand where you are."
This approach has been a consistent theme in Visma's development pathway this winter. The stars are present, visible, and demanding, but never unreachable. For young riders, this may be the most important lesson: exposure first, responsibility later, and results when the foundations are solid.
