Another German in the World Tour: Anton Schiffer joins Team Visma | Lease a Bike

Anton Schiffer is about to make the biggest career leap of any cyclist. The 25-year-old German is moving from the Continental team Bike Aid to the WorldTour team Visma | Lease a Bike, which also includes top stars such as Jonas Vingegaard and Wout van Aert. As the Dutch team announced, Schiffer will be racing for his new team from 1 October and has signed a contract until the end of 2027. The move comes as a surprise to many, as Schiffer only got into cycling late in life. Born in Germany, he was a triathlete in his youth and only decided to concentrate fully on cycling in 2022. In mid-2023, he joined the Continental team Bike Aid, where he combined his cycling career with work as a coach for cyclists and triathletes. This season, Schiffer was able to draw attention to himself with consistently strong performances. He finished second overall at the Tour of Hellas and fourth at the Sibiu Cycling Tour, where he also celebrated his first professional victory.

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Surprising career leap with development potential

For Schiffer himself, the move to the WorldTour team is not completely unexpected. "This move may come as a surprise to the outside world, but given the way this season has gone, it doesn't surprise me that much," explained the 25-year-old. "I've been in contact with the team since the Tour of Hellas and I'm happy that it has finally led to my first WorldTour contract." The German is particularly looking forward to the professional structures at his new employer: "I'm looking forward to really living like a professional athlete for the first time. The opportunity to concentrate fully on my sport, combined with the support of internal experts, the support of the food coach, the equipment and the experience of the team are all things that will hopefully help me to grow as a rider," says Schiffer.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike sees great potential

Grischa Niermann, Head of Racing at Team Visma | Lease a Bike, confirms that the team sees great development potential in Schiffer. "We believe that he still has a lot of room for improvement in all areas. Based on the discussions we've had, we know that he's a really good fit for us," says Niermann, explaining the signing. The sporting director is particularly impressed by Schiffer's successes to date despite the comparatively modest team structure: "Although he rides for a small team, he has already managed to achieve his first professional victory. That clearly shows that he has real talent." The team is looking forward to working with the new signing and is delighted that Schiffer will be able to compete for the Dutch team from October.

From triathlete to WorldTour pro

Schiffer's path to the WorldTour is unusual. While most professionals focus exclusively on cycling from a young age, the German was active as a triathlete for a long time. It was only at the age of 23 that he decided to switch completely to cycling. At Bike Aid, he was given the opportunity to demonstrate his skills while also working as a trainer. This double burden will now be eliminated when he can concentrate fully on his career as a professional at Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Schiffer could benefit from his experience in triathlon, particularly in terms of endurance and mental strength. As a former coach, he also has a deep understanding of training methods and performance development, which could help him in his own further development.