Jumbo-Visma DS: There are some big talents coming out of Britain
The WorldTour team sees great potential in the current crop of British riders

This season, for the first time in over 30 years, Jumbo-Visma will ride with a Brit on their men’s roster.
The Dutch team, which topped the UCI's 2022 rankings, welcomed 21-year-old Thomas Gloag as a trainee last year, elevating him to their WorldTour squad for 2023.
Speaking to Cycling Weekly, Grischa Niermann, Jumbo-Visma sports director, praised the wealth of British riders breaking into the men’s peloton.
“I think right now there are a lot of young riders coming out of Britain who are really big talents,” Niermann told Cycling Weekly.
Earlier this month, the team invited 19-year-old Finlay Pickering, formerly of Groupama-FDJ’s continental squad, to their winter training camp in Alicante, Spain.
Asked if Jumbo-Visma are consciously monitoring British riders, Niermann replied “no”.
“[We look at] talents that we think suit well into our programme, into our team," he added. "It’s probably not likely that that is a Colombian rider, for example, but Northern Europeans, Scandinavians, British riders.
“We didn’t sign Thomas and we didn’t invite Finlay because they are British, but because they’re big talents."
Finlay Pickering riding for Groupama-FDJ at the 2022 Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge.
This season, Pickering will wear the jersey of British Continental outfit Trinity Racing, the same team Gloag rode for last year. Niermann highlighted that Jumbo-Visma has developed a “good relationship” with the British squad, which is managed by agent Andrew McQuaid.
Speaking about Gloag, Jumbo-Visma's first British rider since Dave Rayner in the early 1990s, Niermann said he expects a "big future".
“I think he will be good in the one-day Classics, in the hilly Classics, like Lombardy and Liège," he added, outlining that the new recruit is unlikely to ride a debut Grand Tour this season.
"We don't want to take giant steps with him," he said. "We want to do it bit by bit, but he will do a lot of nice races.”
Could Gloag be a future Grand Tour contender? “I think that’s something time will tell,” Niermann said. “When we signed Jonas Vingegaard we didn’t sign him as the future Tour de France winner, we signed him as a young talent that had a lot of margin to gain. That’s what he showed and now he’s won the Tour de France.”
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
-
Cannonade’s Compact Neo e-bike: lots of style, moderate functionality, hard-to-beat price
We review Cannondale's smallest and lightest e-bike yet.
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Here's why we think Primož Roglič used a gravel groupset on Giro d'Italia's Queen stage
Primož Roglič used a gravel groupset on Giro d'Italia's Queen stage. Here's why.
By Joe Baker • Published
-
‘I was sick everywhere’ - Brit Tom Gloag fights illness and embraces 'ignorance' at Giro d’Italia
The 21-year-old Londoner on his dramatic debut Grand Tour call up, throwing up on a climb, and trying to help his Jumbo-Visma team
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'We just hope for the best, huh' - Covid's return impacts Giro d'Italia
Jumbo-Visma, Bahrain-Victorious and Trek-Segafredo have all been affected by the virus in the run up to the race
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma perfect until it really mattered: Five things we learned from the men's cobbled Classic season
Tadej Pogačar should be lining up a tilt at Paris-Roubaix, Mathieu van der Poel has won almost everything he can, and Ineos Grenadiers underwhelmed
By Adam Becket • Published
-
'All the pressure was on him': Philippe Gilbert impressed by Kasper Asgreen’s form ahead of Paris-Roubaix
Danish rider finished seventh for Soudal Quick-Step after Patrick Lefevere called for riders to ‘save team’s honour’
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Jonas Vingegaard triumphs on stage three of Itzulia Basque Country to return to winning ways
Low-speed incident takes Richard Carapaz and Sergio Higuita out of contention on vertiginous finish
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma set to use adjustable tyre pressure systems at Paris-Roubaix
The Dutch team and DSM will both utilise different systems on the cobblestones of the ‘Hell of the North’
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Five things we learned from the Tour of Flanders 2023: Kasper Asgreen could save Quick-Step's spring
Jumbo-Visma are fallible after all, and SD Worx's dominance continues with Roubaix in sight
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Tour of Flanders 2023: Five men and five women to watch on Sunday
Taking a closer look at the favourites ahead of this year's Ronde van Vlaanderen
By Tom Thewlis • Published