For a whole whack of pros, it\u2019s new kit day on Thursday, including Victoria\u2019s Sarah Van Dam and Toronto\u2019s Ashlin Barry, who join Visma \u2013 Lease a Bike.<\/p>\n
Van Dam\u2019s goals for 2026<\/p>\n
Sarah Van Dam announced the news back in September<\/a>. The 23-year-old made the move from CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team after a breakthrough year that included her first Women\u2019s WorldTour podium. CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team had announced the team would fold from the pro peloton after 11 years.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to contribute to a winning team and play my part in it,\u201d Van Dam said. The Olympian said that stage races excite her the most, but she is also keen to the Ardennes classics. \u201cI feel like there\u2019s still so much room for me to grow and develop,\u201d Van Dam said. \u201cI know I have a lot to learn, both physically and tactically. This team provides the perfect environment to take the next step. I\u2019m excited to contribute the coming three years to a winning team and play my part in it. I would like to help our leaders win, and show that I can also fight for results myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Barry and the bees<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s Ashlin Barry\u2013who was born in Girona and has dual citizenship due to his American mother, Dede, signed with Visma \u2013 Lease a Bike at 17. His final year of junior racing he rode with the Dutch feeder team, JEGG Skil DJR. Barry has already been on several training camps during the season with the Visma pros, however.<\/p>\n When the news was announced in December 2024, he said that he hadn\u2019t thought too much about switching teams until teams started to show interest in him during the season. \u201cI had a good experience at EF \u2013 Onto and great relationships with my teammates so there was no urgency to leave,\u201d Barry, said. \u201cThroughout the season I was just focused on racing and performing at my best, and once my season ended, I began to have more conversations with teams and consider switching, especially when I began learning about the long-term support, planning and structure others weren\u2019t offering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Dam focused on track for several years before then shifting over to the road. \u201cBalancing track and road was challenging. But I realized how much I enjoy the road scene: the long rides, training outdoors, and racing stage events,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n