It’s no secret that Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s approach to bike racing does not suit every rider. Over the past few years, the Dutch squad has often found itself in the headlines after departures of high-profile riders and comments from current and former pros that have painted a picture of a somewhat rigid team structure. Formerly known as Giant-Alpecin and Sunweb before DSM-Firmenich and PostNL came onboard as sponsors in the last three years, the team’s methods have undeniably brought impressive results, though it’s fair to say not everyone is compatible with the organisation’s culture.
The trend, however, seems to be that when things work for a rider at Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL, they really work. Romain Bardet, for example, returned to his Tour de France stage winning ways as part of the outfit. Young riders like Oscar Onley, Casper van Uden and Pavel Bittner are punching above their weight in WorldTour races. On the women’s side of the team, the likes of Pfeiffer Georgi and Charlotte Kool are taking victories as part of a well-drilled, tight-knit, perfect sprint lead-out train. It’s true that some don’t find what they’re looking for at Team DSM, but it has also become a conveyor belt for young talent which soars to the very top of the podium at an impressive speed.
One of the latest riders to come from the Team DSM-Firmenich goldmine of climbing stars is Scunthorpe-born Max Poole. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2024, ending it with his first professional victory at the Tour of Langkawi a few weeks ago. Before that, Poole made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España and he wasted no time in making sure the cycling world would learn his name. There were no stage victories in the end, but Poole came agonisingly close with podium finishes on four occasions after long efforts in the breakaway. He puts much of this success down to being part of a team which works for him, proving his loyalties by signing with Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL until 2027.
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“The structure of the team, right from when I was on the development team, it really helps you to ensure you have everything in place. It gives you the best chance to just focus on the important stuff and become a better rider,” Poole says. “It obviously doesn’t suit everybody which is fine but for me, it’s helped me become more drilled.”
The British rider adds that working with Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL…