Visma-Lease a Bike have signed Britain’s Dan McLay as an important leadout man for sprinter Olav Kooij after the anticipated return of Mike Teunissen fell by means of and he signed with Astana Qazaqstan.
32-year-old McLay was Arnaud Démare’s lead out man at Arkéa-B&B Lodges however his contract was not prolonged because the French staff tried to chop prices.
McLay’s arrival at Visma-Lease a Bike means the Dutch WorldTour staff nonetheless has one place to fill if it decides to succeed in the utmost staff dimension of 30 riders. Nonetheless, in 2024, the staff made do with 28 riders.
“Dan McLay’s expertise and abilities align completely with our targets, and we’re assured that he’ll make a major impression. He’s a really skilled lead-out, and that’s precisely what we have been on the lookout for,” senior directeur sportif Grischa Niermann stated.
“Specifically, 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 staff subsequent season.”
McLay turned skilled with Bretagne-Séché Environnement in 2015 and has raced for the French squad each season since aside from 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 function in recent times.
His expertise within the Classics may see McLay additionally play a job 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 staff. Workforce Visma-Lease a Bike has an amazing observe document in creating riders and regardless of being on the older finish of the event curve I nonetheless assume there may be room to enhance,” stated McClay.
“My ambitions are to do the most effective job potential for the staff and particularly within the lead-out for Olav.”
