'Last man for Brennan and Van Aert' - Filippo Fiorelli set for key role at Visma

Filippo Fiorelli will realise his dream of competing at the highest level in cycling after signing a two-year contract with Visma | Lease a Bike beginning in 2026. The Sicilian, who will be 31 years old when the new season kicks off, admitted he had nearly given up on reaching the WorldTour before the Dutch powerhouse came calling after this year's Giro d'Italia.

"Honestly, no. I was hoping for it, but I'd almost given up," Fiorelli said toOA Sport about whether he expected the opportunity to come now. "Then, thanks to a positive first half of the season, something started to happen, and finally, Visma called. I signed a two-year contract: it's a dream come true."

Fiorelli has been a consistent performer throughout his professional career, and has made a name for himself at the Giro d'Italia, where he has accumulated eleven top-10 stage results across six appearances.

Despite being known for his fast finish, Fiorelli is also a combative rider who has demonstrated impressive climbing abilities, illustrated by his fifth place overall at the Giro d'Abruzzo earlier this year, where he also secured the points classification.

The Italian revealed that Visma approached him with a specific role in mind after the Giro d'Italia. "The team explained it clearly to me. They contacted me the week after the Giro d'Italia, presenting me with a project built around me," said Fiorelli.

"Among the aspects they evaluated were my ability to ride the bike and avoid falls: there was even a slide dedicated to this in the project. Having an injury-free season really makes a difference."

At Visma, Fiorelli will primarily serve as a lead-out man for the team's star riders while still having opportunities for personal success. He has one professional win to his name, which came on the opening stage of the Sibiu Cycling Tour in Romania in 2022.

"They told me I'll be the last man for [Matthew] Brennan and [Wout] van Aert, but I'll also have some personal opportunities. Since I'm a fast rider, they'll leave me room to play my cards when the opportunity arises," Fiorelli said.

Fiorelli has already begun working with his new team and acknowledged the step-up from VF Group - Bardiani CSF - Faizanè, with whom he has spent the past six seasons.

"I have to say it's a top-notch organisation, without taking anything away from Bardiani, who have always done a great job for Italian cycling and beyond," he said. "With Visma, however, you can sense the quality and professionalism of one of the best teams in the world."

Fiorelli is part of an injection of Italian talent into the Dutch team for 2026, with talented climber Davide Piganzoli signing from Polti VisitMalta, as well as 21-year-old Pietro Mattio, who makes the step up from the development team, joining the already established Edoardo Affini, who had been Vimsa's only Italian rider since arriving in 2021.