Mark Donovan sidesteps Visma transfer talk after reported two year deal: ‘I’m not on social media’

WielerFlits reported on Tuesday that Donovan is set to join Visma for the next two seasons after four years with Pinarello-Q36.5. According to the Dutch outlet, the 27-year-old is expected to help fill the gap left by Steven Kruijswijk, who will retire after the 2026 season.

Speaking to reporters, including Domestique, at the Tour of Britain, Donovan was asked directly whether there was any truth to the reports surrounding his next team.

“I’m not on social media, so I don’t know what’s being said about that,” he replied.

It was about as much as Donovan was willing to offer on the subject. Earlier, when asked more broadly about his long term plans, the Briton had been similarly open ended about where the next part of his career might take him.

“I think just to experience some new things and carry on how I’ve been going, enjoying racing and wherever that is,” he said.

Should the reported move go through, it would take Donovan back to a team that has known him for some time.

WielerFlits reports that the then Jumbo-Visma were already following Donovan closely in 2019, when he was still one of the more highly rated British prospects. He was among a group of six young riders on the team’s radar alongside Thymen Arensman, Mikkel Bjerg, Tobias Foss, Andreas Leknessund and Filip Maciejuk. Of those six, only Foss eventually joined.

The role he is expected to take on would also fit with the balance Donovan has struck at Q36.5 this season.

With Tom Pidcock in the team, Donovan has regularly been asked to work for the British leader, while races without Pidcock have left more room for him to chase his own results.

“It’s been a bit of a mix this year,” Donovan explained. “When you turn up to a race with Tom [Pidcock], it’s sort of full support for him to try and win, and then you still have the opportunities yourself at races like this.”

At Visma, Donovan could take on some of the climbing support work Kruijswijk has performed in recent seasons. The Dutch veteran became an important Grand Tour domestique later in his career, particularly around the team’s general classification leaders.

Donovan already has experience in that kind of terrain. He has ridden five Grand Tours and finished the Tour de France in 2021, while his results since joining Q36.5 have largely come in stage races. 

His only professional victory to date came with the overall title at the Sibiu Tour in 2023. This season he returned to the race and finished third overall, alongside top 15 finishes at both the Tour de Pologne and Arctic Race of Norway.

For the moment, however, Donovan has his own opportunities at the Tour of Britain.

The harder stages later in the race appear better suited to him than the opening day, and he picked out the longer climbs coming later in the week as a chance to see what he can do.

“I think the day on Saturday is pretty nice for me,” he said. “A bit longer climbs than today, so just try and survive until then and see what I can do.”