Visma-Lease a Bike have signed Britain’s Dan McLay as a significant leadout man for sprinter Olav Kooij after the anticipated return of Mike Teunissen fell via and he signed with Astana Qazaqstan.
32-year-old McLay was Arnaud Démare’s lead out man at Arkéa-B&B Hotels however his contract was not prolonged because the French workforce tried to chop prices.
McLay’s arrival at Visma-Lease a Bike means the Dutch WorldTour workforce nonetheless has one place to fill if it decides to succeed in the utmost workforce measurement of 30 riders. However, in 2024, the workforce 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 big influence. He is a really skilled lead-out, and that’s precisely what we have been in search of,” senior directeur sportif Grischa Niermann said.
“In specific, 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 workforce subsequent season.”
McLay turned skilled with Bretagne-Séché Environnement in 2015 and has raced for the French squad each season since other than a two-year spell at EF in 2018 and 2019.
He has gained ten instances and secured quite a few placings throughout his profession however has transitioned right into a lead-out position in recent times.
His expertise within the Classics might see McLay additionally play a task within the Visma-Lease a Classics group that features Wout van Aert, Christophe Laporte and the USA’s Matteo Jorgenson.
“I’m wanting ahead to becoming a member of the workforce. Team Visma-Lease a Bike has an excellent monitor report in growing riders and regardless of being on the older finish of the event curve I nonetheless assume there’s room to enhance,” stated McClay.
“My ambitions are to do the most effective job potential for the workforce and particularly within the lead-out for Olav.”