With this trio, the team’s 2026 lineup now counts fifteen riders. “With these three riders, we strengthen ourselves once again on all fronts,” says Head of Development Robbert de Groot. “Jonas is an all-rounder and a loyal soldier for our team, entering his third consecutive year with us. Don’t forget that as a junior, he came from mountain biking and had barely raced on the road. He’s made huge progress with us, and we believe he still has room to grow. We expect Aldo to continue developing as a classics rider, but his sprint and time-trial skills are also promising. We want to help him reach his full potential. And Sven is a raw diamond as a climber. We’re very curious to see what progress he can make with our team’s support.”
“I’m really excited about this step,” says Taillieu, who claimed his first pro victory earlier this year by winning the prologue of the Tour of Rwanda in his debut U23 season. “I’m looking forward to the structured way of working and the expertise within the team when it comes to nutrition and training. I want to keep improving in all areas. Hopefully, I can grow into a strong classics rider with the support of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, but I’m also eager to help the team in stage races with a leader who can go for the win.”
Mernik also looks forward to joining his new team: “I want to become a professional cyclist, and this brings me a step closer to that goal. As a kid, I already followed this team — Primož Roglič has always been one of my biggest sporting heroes. I’ve seen the team grow into one of the best in the world, and I’m very proud to be joining it.”
