It was quite something when in 2025, Rabobank announced it would be a sponsor of Dutch superteam Visma – Lease a Bike. The bank also began sponsoring the national team.
Visma – Lease a Bike is one of the oldest teams in pro cycling, beginning in 1984 as Kwantum–Decosol–Yoko. Rabo was a main sponsor for the men’s team for 16 years, from 1996 to 2012. However, its sponsorship ended quite…abruptly.
Rabobank and cycling
Rabobank ended its professional cycling sponsorship in 2012 after the Lance Armstrong doping scandal and everything that followed. “We are not convinced that the cycling world is capable of ensuring a clean and fair sport,” Rabobank stated at the time.
It kept funding the team but chose not to have its name on the jerseys. The squad raced as Team Blanco in plain white kits.
It’s been a while, but it was quite something to see the long-running cycling sponsor back on the kit–it’s not the main sponsor, you can see it on the side of the riders’ jerseys and on hats, but it’s still there.
With the news that Visma was on the hunt for a new title sponsor, Rabobank seemed like a natural fit, given its history.
Rabobank responds
Speculation intensified after Rabobank CEO Stefaan Decraene and board member Carlo van Kemenade were in Rome to celebrate Jonas Vingegaard’s Giro d’Italia victory. Decraene later described the success as a “fantastic achievement” built on teamwork and said Rabobank was proud to be part of the team’s journey.
However, Van Kemenade dismissed suggestions that the bank is preparing to replace Visma as a main sponsor. Speaking recently to WielerFlits, he said Rabobank is not discussing that possibility but remains enthusiastic about its current partnership with the squad.
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According to Van Kemenade, the bank sees strong value in supporting programmes such as Ready2Race and the Rabobank Dikke Banden Races, while also helping develop young riders. He said the existing relationship is a good fit for both sides.
Positive response to Rabobank returning
Rabobank’s return to cycling in 2025 was met with an overwhelmingly positive response, both inside the company and among customers. Van Kemenade said the comeback restored a sense of pride within the organization and noted that enthusiasm for the sport continues to grow across the bank.
“We have committed ourselves to cycling,” he said. “If we do something,…
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