DSM-Firmenich: Jakobsen and Dutch envoys give team promising new touch

November is now in full swing, and that means the road cycling season has been over for a while. IDLProCycling.com takes advantage of November and December to look back on the 2023 season team by team and to look forward to 2024. Up next: DSM-Firmenich!

One-day races 2023: DSM-Firmenich 

In terms of one-day races, the season could not have started off better for Team DSM-Firmenich. The German, Marius Mayrhofer, surprised everyone with a victory in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, where he sprinted to the win after 175 kilometers of cycling. Unfortunately for the team, this would be only one of two victories in one-day events: Sam Welsford won the Grand Prix Criquielion.

In the major races, John Degenkolb came closest to a medal. The German seemed to be in contention for the win in Paris-Roubaix, but after getting caught between Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen, a silly crash deprived him of that opportunity. Besides that, the experienced Degenkolb actually had a very good spring, albeit without any real highlights except for Roubaix.

Romain Bardet was the man targeted in the hill classics. He too performed commendably with places around the top ten. In addition, sprinter Welsford managed to secure a number of honorable finishes in the spring.

(Grand) tours 2023: DSM-Firmenich 

In terms of stage races, the team actually had a very commendable year. Alberto Dainese won a stage in both the Giro and the Vuelta, while the team also provided a stunning surprise by winning the team time trial on day one of the Spanish Grand Tour. This put Lorenzo Milesi in the red leader's jersey, while teammate Andreas Leknessund had the honor of wearing the Giro's pink jersey. The Norwegian also finished eighth in that race.

Additionally, there were several honorable finishes to report in the smaller tours. Romain Bardet finished in the top ten in races like Paris-Nice, the Tour of Romandy and the Tour of Switzerland, but the Frenchman couldn't really compete in the Grand Tours. Moreover, despite good results in Romandy and Hungary, Max Poole was unable to contend in the Vuelta. But then again, should we expect that from such a young lad?

Also, some fine stage victories and honorable finishes were achieved in races at an even slightly lower level, which undoubtedly provides perspective towards the coming years for the young DSM-Firmenich team.

Final 2023 score DSM-Firmenich 

DSM-Firmenich generated the necessary publicity in the Giro and Vuelta by winning stages and wearing the leader's jersey, but unfortunately, the team's performance in the Tour did not live up to expectations. However, the team - with a limited budget and many young riders - showed enough promising signs for the coming seasons. The (former) editorial members of IDLProCycling.com have rated the team an average of 5.6, meaning they just passed!

Transfers 2023/2024: DSM-Firmenich 

If there's one team that has made some exciting moves this winter from a Dutch perspective, it's DSM-Firmenich. Iwan Spekenbrink's squad has at times faced criticism in the past for not being Dutch enough, but with the transfers made this period, that can hardly be said for next year.

For instance, sprinting lead Fabio Jakobsen is joining the ranks from Soudal Quick-Step and his lead-out will at least be taken care of by other new recruits Bram Welten and Timo Roosen. In addition, the team has added three promising youngsters to the squad with Gijs Leemreize, Frank van den Broek and Enzo Leijnse.

Additionally, after Degenkolb, Warren Barguil also returns to his old stomping grounds. The Frenchman will have his role in stage races and the tougher classics. With Sam Welsford, Alberto Dainese and Marius Mayrhofer, the team loses three fast men, and the departure of climber Andreas Leknessund is also unfortunate.

Incoming: Warren Barguil (Arkéa Samsic), Fabio Jakobsen (Soudal Quick-Step), Bram Welten (Groupama-FDJ), Frank van den Broek, Enzo Leijnse, Patrick Eddy (Development Team DSM-firmenich), Timo Roosen and Gijs Leemreize (Jumbo-Visma)

(Preliminary) outgoing: Alberto Dainese, Marius Mayrhofer, Florian Stork (Tudor), Andreas Leknessund, Jonas Iversby Hvindeberg (Uno-X), Sam Welsford (BORA-hansgrohe), Harm Vanhoucke and Henri Vandenabeele (Lotto-Dstny)

Riders to watches 2024: DSM-Firmenich 

With Jakobsen, DSM-Firmenich has really brought in someone who will make an immediate impact, especially since the team started to restructure itself around sprinting a few years ago. The Dutchman is naturally a direct reinforcement as a finisher, but his leadership qualities and the way he can elevate other guys to a higher level should also not be underestimated.

Additionally, it will be interesting to see how the two great British talents of DSM-Firmenich will continue to develop. Poole and Oscar Onley have already shown impressive performances intermittently over the past two years, but to what extent can they continue this trend in 2024? Alongside Romain Bardet and Warren Barguil, there is certainly room for a new breakthrough in climbing.

From a Dutch perspective, it is also interesting to see how guys like Nils Eekhoff, Frank van den Broek and Casper van Uden can make progress in various fields. And then there's Matthew Dinham, the surprising seventh-place finisher at the grueling World Championships in Glasgow.

(Preliminary) selection DSM-Firmenich 2024

1. Tobias Lund Andresen
2. Romain Bardet
3. Warren Barguil
4. Patrick Bevin
5. Pavel Bittner
6. Marco Brenner
7. Romain Combaud
8. John Degenkolb
9. Matthew Dinham
10. Patrick Eddy
11. Alex Edmondson
12. Nils Eekhoff
13. Sean Flynn
14. Chris Hamilton
15. Fabio Jakobsen
16. Gijs Leemreize
17. Enzo Leijnse
18. Lorenzo Milesi
19. Niklas Märkl
20. Tim Naberman
21. Oscar Onley
22. Max Poole
23. Timo Roosen
24. Martijn Tusveld
25. Frank van den Broek
26. Casper van Uden
27. Kevin Vermaerke
28. Bram Welten