Team Jumbo-Visma have announced the signing of thirteen riders for a new development team and amongst the foreign contingent in the line-up is Irish rider Archie Ryan.
The group of riders who are all under the age of 20 have raced in a number of disciplines including cyclocross, track and mountain biking. Archie Ryan, Finn Fisher-Black from New Zealand and the German riders Michel Hessmann and Maurice Ballerstedt form the foreign contingent on the team.
Ryan who raced underage with both Bray Wheelers and O’Leary Stone Kanturk CC has represented Ireland at both the Road and Cyclocross World Championships. The 17 year-old has taken some impressive results this season including top ten stage placings at Bizkaiko Itzulia in the Basque Country and LVM Saarland Trofeo Juniors in Germany. He also finished 2nd in both the Road Race and Time Trial at the Irish National Championships in June.
Rick Pluimers, Axel van der Tuuk, Lars Boven, Owen Geleijn, Olav Kooij, Hidde van Veenendaal, Mick van Dijke, Tim van Dijke and Gijs Leemreize are the Dutch riders in the team.
Robert Wagner becomes one of the sports directors. The German is an old acquaintance of Team Jumbo-Visma. Until this season he was active as a rider with the Dutch professional team. Robbert de Groot becomes head of the development team. De Groot is no stranger to cycling, as he previously worked for the Rabobank cycling team, before working with Dutch football teams AZ Alkmaar and FC Groningen, among others.
Director Richard Plugge sees a wish come true with the arrival of his own development team. “I am very proud that, after the disappearance of the Rabobank Development Team, we have been able to set up a development team with the help of Jumbo and Visma. Together with, among other things, a school plan, we want to create growth for Dutch cycling.”
