On the right track: Elliot Rowe’s rise inside Visma-Lease a Bike
Amid talk of turbulence at Visma–Lease a Bike, 19-year-old Scot Elliot Rowe is quietly thriving. After a breakthrough U23 season that included a stage win at the Tour de l’Avenir, he tells The British Continental why the team's development system - and a continued commitment to the track - is bringing the best out of him as he eyes the WorldTour.
It hasn’t been an easy time for Visma–Lease a Bike so far this season. The sudden retirement of Simon Yates sent shockwaves through a team that only two seasons ago claimed victory in all three Grand Tours. With former riders speaking out and the departure of coach Tim Heemskerk adding fuel to the fire, you’d be forgiven for believing a crisis was unfolding inside the Dutch outfit.
Yet inside the Manchester Velodrome, on a damp February evening, lies evidence to the contrary. Nineteen-year-old Elliot Rowe, resplendent in the yellow skinsuit of ‘the Bees’, pedals smoothly away on the turbo. Qualification for the Scratch Race final at the National Track Championships complete, he is happy to talk to The British Continental about his experiences with the Dutch outfit as he enters his second year with their U23 development squad.
They’ve definitely brought the best out of me
“For me personally, it’s been amazing – they’ve definitely brought the best out of me,” he says enthusiastically, comfortable with the line of questioning. “What I’ve been doing with my coach, and with the team – the devo guys – it’s been really good. I’m definitely starting to see my potential. It’s what I’ve needed to progress.” His words are backed up by consistent results over the course of his first under-23 year.
“It was a really good season, lots of experience gained, and it was definitely better than I expected it was going to go. So yeah, it was really nice,” the Scot says casually when asked about a 2025 campaign that saw him finish second to Callum Thornley in the under-23 version of Il Lombardia, as well as take a stage win at the Tour de l’Avenir – the U23 equivalent of the Tour de France.
Rowe wins stage 2 of the 2025 Tour de L’Avenir. Image: Tour de L’Avenir
“It was really, really nice – really unexpected, which made it even better,” he says of his stage two triumph in Vitry-en-Charollais, sprinting to victory from a 20-rider breakaway on a day earmarked for the sprinters. “We had a really good couple of days actually, with Noah [Hobbs] winning the day before. It was an amazing start to the race.”
A big step for any rider, Rowe’s move to the continent was eased by the number of British riders under the Visma–Lease a Bike umbrella. He joined Fensham Howes MAS Design alumnus Jed Smithson as one of four Brits on the development squad, while the WorldTour team contains not only the vast experience of Simon Yates but also the inspiration of young riders such as Matt Brennan and Imogen Wolff.
Even within the devo setup we had a good group of British guys, which made it good fun. It felt like home
“It helps a lot,” he explains. “It was my first year in the team and even within the devo setup we had a good group of British guys, which made it good fun. It felt like home as well, so it was good.”
Looking every inch the climber as he spins the pedals on the turbo, a gold chain dangling around his neck, Rowe is less convinced about being pigeonholed as a particular type of rider. A string of consistent results in UCI races over the past twelve months underline his potential across a variety of terrains.
“To be honest, I’m still finding that out a bit. I’ll see how this year goes, get some more experience and learn a bit more about myself – see what I’m good at and what I’m not,” he muses. His track background, and Visma’s support of it, has played a part in shaping those all-round credentials.
“I think with the history of British cycling – and a lot of the top guys coming out of Britain – they’ve all got history on the track. I think they see the benefits from what we do on the track with speed work. A bit of both is really beneficial,” he says, noting that a one-size-fits-all approach to the sport has not been his experience with his trade team.
Part of the Podium Potential squad with the national team, the track has always been central to Rowe’s career – something he hopes to continue with a home Commonwealth Games on the horizon.
Rowe in action at the 2026 British National Track Championships. Image: Josh Wheeler / JoWSportsMedia
“I spent a lot of time here on the track on the junior programme. A blend of both – track and road – that’s what I enjoy. And I’m still making both work, which is good. I’m enjoying the bunch racing; it seems to be good for me, the endurance events. I’m just taking it as it comes and seeing how far I can get with it.
It would be really nice to go to Glasgow and represent Scotland
“[The Commonwealth Games] are something that I’m hoping to go to, so we’ll see how selection goes. It would be really nice to go to Glasgow and represent Scotland.”
National pride aside, Rowe is set for a big 2026 as he eyes a WorldTour contract.
“Stepping it up a bit,” he explains, focusing on increased opportunities in what he describes as “bigger races”.
“Seeing what I can do there, trying different things like supporting some of the pro guys when I ride with the WorldTour team, and then going for my own opportunities in some devo races. I think just trying to progress from last year and keep following that trajectory.
“It’s a good programme we’ve got at Visma–Lease a Bike. It would be nice to step up with them. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully one day make it up to the WorldTour.”
Rowe is living proof that the traditional route for British riders – combining road racing with a strong track programme – remains fit for purpose in 2026. In an environment not always known for accommodating outside ideas, he is thriving.
Consistent and talented, the young Scot has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Simon Yates – the Giro d’Italia winner who was also a Points Race world champion – proof, perhaps, that Rowe is very much on the right track.
It hasn’t been an easy time for Visma–Lease a Bike so far this season. The sudden retirement of Simon Yates sent shockwaves through a team that only two seasons ago claimed victory in all three Grand Tours. With former riders speaking out and the departure of coach Tim Heemskerk adding fuel to the fire, you’d be forgiven for believing a crisis was unfolding inside the Dutch outfit.
Yet inside the Manchester Velodrome, on a damp February evening, lies evidence to the contrary. Nineteen-year-old Elliot Rowe, resplendent in the yellow skinsuit of ‘the Bees’, pedals smoothly away on the turbo. Qualification for the Scratch Race final at the National Track Championships complete, he is happy to talk to The British Continental about his experiences with the Dutch outfit as he enters his second year with their U23 development squad.
“For me personally, it’s been amazing – they’ve definitely brought the best out of me,” he says enthusiastically, comfortable with the line of questioning. “What I’ve been doing with my coach, and with the team – the devo guys – it’s been really good. I’m definitely starting to see my potential. It’s what I’ve needed to progress.” His words are backed up by consistent results over the course of his first under-23 year.
“It was a really good season, lots of experience gained, and it was definitely better than I expected it was going to go. So yeah, it was really nice,” the Scot says casually when asked about a 2025 campaign that saw him finish second to Callum Thornley in the under-23 version of Il Lombardia, as well as take a stage win at the Tour de l’Avenir – the U23 equivalent of the Tour de France.
“It was really, really nice – really unexpected, which made it even better,” he says of his stage two triumph in Vitry-en-Charollais, sprinting to victory from a 20-rider breakaway on a day earmarked for the sprinters. “We had a really good couple of days actually, with Noah [Hobbs] winning the day before. It was an amazing start to the race.”
A big step for any rider, Rowe’s move to the continent was eased by the number of British riders under the Visma–Lease a Bike umbrella. He joined Fensham Howes MAS Design alumnus Jed Smithson as one of four Brits on the development squad, while the WorldTour team contains not only the vast experience of Simon Yates but also the inspiration of young riders such as Matt Brennan and Imogen Wolff.
“It helps a lot,” he explains. “It was my first year in the team and even within the devo setup we had a good group of British guys, which made it good fun. It felt like home as well, so it was good.”
Looking every inch the climber as he spins the pedals on the turbo, a gold chain dangling around his neck, Rowe is less convinced about being pigeonholed as a particular type of rider. A string of consistent results in UCI races over the past twelve months underline his potential across a variety of terrains.
“To be honest, I’m still finding that out a bit. I’ll see how this year goes, get some more experience and learn a bit more about myself – see what I’m good at and what I’m not,” he muses. His track background, and Visma’s support of it, has played a part in shaping those all-round credentials.
“I think with the history of British cycling – and a lot of the top guys coming out of Britain – they’ve all got history on the track. I think they see the benefits from what we do on the track with speed work. A bit of both is really beneficial,” he says, noting that a one-size-fits-all approach to the sport has not been his experience with his trade team.
Part of the Podium Potential squad with the national team, the track has always been central to Rowe’s career – something he hopes to continue with a home Commonwealth Games on the horizon.
“I spent a lot of time here on the track on the junior programme. A blend of both – track and road – that’s what I enjoy. And I’m still making both work, which is good. I’m enjoying the bunch racing; it seems to be good for me, the endurance events. I’m just taking it as it comes and seeing how far I can get with it.
“[The Commonwealth Games] are something that I’m hoping to go to, so we’ll see how selection goes. It would be really nice to go to Glasgow and represent Scotland.”
National pride aside, Rowe is set for a big 2026 as he eyes a WorldTour contract.
“Stepping it up a bit,” he explains, focusing on increased opportunities in what he describes as “bigger races”.
“Seeing what I can do there, trying different things like supporting some of the pro guys when I ride with the WorldTour team, and then going for my own opportunities in some devo races. I think just trying to progress from last year and keep following that trajectory.
“It’s a good programme we’ve got at Visma–Lease a Bike. It would be nice to step up with them. I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully one day make it up to the WorldTour.”
Rowe is living proof that the traditional route for British riders – combining road racing with a strong track programme – remains fit for purpose in 2026. In an environment not always known for accommodating outside ideas, he is thriving.
Consistent and talented, the young Scot has the potential to follow in the footsteps of Simon Yates – the Giro d’Italia winner who was also a Points Race world champion – proof, perhaps, that Rowe is very much on the right track.
Featured image: Milan Josy
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