Race news
Viral Tour of Britain kid joins Visma partner team five years after unforgettable bidon moment
Xander Graham, the Scottish teenager who famously raced alongside the Tour of Britain breakaway as a 12-year-old, has taken a significant step towards the professional ranks by joining Dutch junior squad JEGG-SKIL-DJR for 2027.
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Cor Vos
Five years ago, Graham was the young fan on the side of the road trying to keep pace with a Tour of Britain breakaway.
Now he is moving into a development environment connected to the same cycling organisation that played a part in making him famous.
The 17-year-old Scot will join Dutch junior squad JEGG-SKIL-DJR for the 2027 season, giving him the opportunity to step into an established international development programme as he continues his push towards the professional ranks.
JEGG-SKIL-DJR works in partnership with Team Visma | Lease a Bike and has a clear focus on developing junior riders before the next stage of their careers.
For Graham, the link carries an obvious sense of history.
Viral Tour of Britain moment started remarkable story
In 2021, the then 12-year-old rode alongside the Tour of Britain breakaway from the pavement near Edinburgh, catching the eye of Jumbo-Visma rider Pascal Eenkhoorn, who handed him a bidon.
The exchange was broadcast live and quickly went viral, with the footage attracting more than a million views. Graham was later invited to the final stage, where he visited the Jumbo-Visma team before the start in Stonehaven.
Graham has backed up the early attention with results across both road and cyclocross. He finished second in the opening time trial at the Vuelta Junior a la Ribera del Duero and later wore the overall and young rider leader's jerseys, while his first U19 cyclocross campaign included second place in the British National Trophy Series.
He also won the junior title at the 2025 Scottish Cyclocross Championships.
When announcing his arrival, JEGG-SKIL-DJR highlighted Graham's performances on more demanding terrain and his potential to continue developing within its junior programme.
“I feel it’s the right team for me to keep developing, race at the highest level and take the next step in my cycling career,” Graham said.
For Graham, the move adds a new chapter to a story that first crossed Visma's path on the roadside at the Tour of Britain five years ago.
