Finn joins Jumbo Visma team academy

Rising star Finn Fisher-Black had double reason to celebrate this week.

The 17-year-old was officially announced as part of the new Team Jumbo-Visma Academy cycling team which was unveiled this week.

Finn also had his plaster removed from his arm that he broke in New Zealand, which ruled him out of last week’s super-successful campaign at the UCI Junior World Track Cycling Championships. The current junior world record holder for the individual pursuit was on hand in Germany to help the New Zealand team.

The World Tour organisation has been working on establishing the academy, mainly as a pathway programme for Dutch cycling talent but the 13-strong group includes four international riders including Fisher-Black.

"Nothing is more beautiful than the development of young riders who improve themselves in such a way that they start acting at a professional level. The challenge is to achieve this for the long term. The development team must be the stepping stone to the pros for young, talented riders."

The team will have former LottoNL-Jumbo professional Robert Wagner as the sports director.

Finn is back on his bike with attentions turned to the road, hoping for selection for next month’s UCI road cycling world championships in Yorkshire, where he will focus on the time trial.

The Nelson rider, who is now based in the Waikato, has developed through the Skoda-Fruzio road team in New Zealand and with involvement in Cycling New Zealand’s Subway Performance Hub development programme.

CAPTION: Finn Fisher-Black ,in action on his way to setting a world junior record for the individual pursuit at the Avantidrome in Cambridge, will be part of the Jumbo-Visma academy programme. (Photo: Dianne Manson)