{"id":205972,"date":"2025-10-17T06:53:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T06:53:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/205972\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T06:53:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T06:53:10","slug":"lease-a-bike-crosses-off-another-name-for-2026-van-aert-and-kooijs-right-hand-man-hangs-up-his-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/205972\/","title":{"rendered":"Lease a Bike crosses off another name for 2026: Van Aert and Kooij\u2019s right-hand man hangs up his bike"},"content":{"rendered":"

After saying goodbye to Dan McLay<\/a>, Visma <\/a>| Lease a Bike is losing another experienced rider from its 2025 roster. Tosh Van der Sande announced Wednesday evening via his official channels<\/a> that he will retire at the end of this season. The 34-year-old Belgian has spent the past four seasons with Visma, after previously riding ten years for Lotto.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time to say it,\u201d wrote Van der Sande on his social media channels. \u201cThe past few years haven\u2019t been easy, physically or mentally, but I gave everything to rediscover the joy and passion that first made me fall in love with this sport. And I succeeded,\u201d his statement read.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut now my body has made it clear that it\u2019s time to stop,\u201d said the Belgian, who has increasingly struggled with physical issues. \u201cStill, I can only look back with immense pride on fourteen unforgettable years competing at the highest level. I\u2019ve raced against, and alongside, the best riders in the world. I\u2019ve lived my dream, and I\u2019m incredibly grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"tosh<\/p>\n

Tosh Van der Sane<\/p>\n

Van der Sande thanks those around him<\/p>\n

In recent years, Van der Sande was part of many successes at Visma | Lease a Bike. He rode the classics alongside Wout van Aert and supported Olav Kooij in sprints, though he didn\u2019t take part in any grand tours. The loyal domestique made it clear he couldn\u2019t have done it without the people around him. \u201cTo all my teammates, staff, and everyone I\u2019ve worked with: I hope you look back on our time together with the same smile I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also shared a message for younger riders: \u201cI hope that, especially in these later years, I was able to share some experience and maybe a few laughs. One last message to the next generation of cyclists: live for your sport, but don\u2019t forget to live beyond it. Don\u2019t lose yourself in numbers, wattages, or your bike computer. Cycling isn\u2019t just about data; it\u2019s about instinct, courage, and the love of riding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Continue reading below<\/p>\n

\"133450_473cdc3fb75143edbcefcd31a137aa61-5fac1febab2f2\"\/\u201cTime to shift into another gear in life\u201d<\/p>\n

With that love for riding, Van der Sande achieved two victories in his career, both before his time with Visma. The Belgian claimed both wins while riding for Lotto Soudal. His first came in stage 2 of the Tour de l\u2019Ain in 2016, and nearly three years later, in July 2019, he won the final stage of the Tour de Wallonie on home soil.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you all for the support, the cheers, the battles, and the laughter. It\u2019s time to shift into another gear in life,\u201d Van der Sande concluded. With his retirement, Visma | Lease a Bike says goodbye to yet another rider from its current roster. Alongside the retiring Dan McLay, Cian Uijtdebroeks (Movistar), Attila Valter (Bahrain Victorious), Olav Kooij and Tiesj Benoot (Decathlon project), and Thomas Gloag (Q36.5) have all chosen to leave the team.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n