Riders show off new black and blue colours during virtual presentation of new sponsors
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Team DSM riders show off the new black and blue colours(Image credit: Team DSM )
Team DSM will use Scott bikes in 2021(Image credit: Team DSM )
The back of Team DSM jersey(Image credit: Team DSM )
Team DSM manager Iwan Spenbrink(Image credit: Team DSM )
Team DSM was presented virtually from the DSM Virtual Innovation Center in the Netherlands(Image credit: Team DSM )
Team Sunweb will become Team DSM in 2021, with the German WorldTour team revealing their new title sponsor and new team colours at a virtual presentation on Friday from DSM's Virtual Innovation Center.
Iwan Spekenbrink's team have worked with DSM for several years, using the company's Dyneema clothing technology. They have now created what they describe as a strategic partnership to "galvanize wider public action around the importance of the health of people and of the planet", with the material technology and nutrition science company stepping to replace Sunweb.
Romain Bardet will lead the team in Grand Tours after joining from AG2R La Mondiale, with Tour de France stage winners Marc Hirschi and Søren Kragh Andersen and Giro d'Italia revelation Jai Hindley leading the talented group of young riders emerging in the team. The USA's Chad Haga and Ireland's Nicolas Roche provide the experience, while Tiesj Benoot targets the Classics and Cees Bol and Alberto Dainese the sprints.
Wilco Kelderman, Michael Matthews and Sam Oomen have moved on but new signings include the USA's Kevin Vermaerke and under-23 European timer trial champion Andreas Leknessundwith.
Team DSM will continue their Under 23 development squad and successful women's WorldTour team that includes Coryn Rivera, Leah Kirchmann, Lorena Wiebes, Liane Lippert and new signing and junior world champion Megan Jastrab.
Team DSM will ride Scott bikes equipped with Shimano components in 2021 and have Volvo team cars. Sunweb remain as a minor sponsor but the team will no longer have the holiday brand as a title sponsor after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the holiday company.
The new team colours maintain the team’s two-stripe 'Keep Challenging' design but the red or white Sunweb colours are replaced by an all-black base colour, blue stripes, and DSM’s colourful logo.
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"The involvement of DSM at this scale will definitely help us set new standards with the best nutrition and materials giving us a competitive edge inside and out," Spekenbrink said.
"The bike is a beautiful symbol of sustainable health and we are very keen to support DSM in ensuring more people recognize there are solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges."
DSM and its associated companies generate annual net sales of €10 billion and has 23,000 employees. It specialises in nutrition such as vitamins and fish oils, health and sustainable living products as well as its origins in chemicals.
DSM said it intends to develop and produce its race apparel with the team clothing brand Bioracer and develop personalized, sustainable sports nutrition for the riders in cooperation with the team sports nutrition partner Sanas.
DSM will also provide additional investment for the team's independent anti-doping programme carried out by the Dutch Anti-Doping Organisation. The team will continue to be part of the Movement for Credible Cycling (MPCC) independent anti-doping association.
Cyclingnews will have more news and interviews from the Team DSM presentation.
Stephen is the most experienced member of the Cyclingnews team, having reported on professional cycling since 1994. He has been Head of News at Cyclingnews since 2022, before which he held the position of European editor since 2012 and previously worked for Reuters, Shift Active Media, and CyclingWeekly, among other publications.
