Franziska Koch will join FDJ-SUEZ from 2026 on a two-year contract, ending a seven-season stretch with the dsm-firmenich structure. The 24-year-old German brings a combative, all-round skillset to the French team, having impressed during the 2025 Tour de France Femmes and with several career highlights already to her name.
“I have raced my entire professional career with one team,” said Koch, “and I think now is the perfect time for something new.” She added that FDJ-SUEZ’s aggressive racing style and professionalism made it the right environment to keep developing. “I am inspired by the team’s determination to race aggressively and am very motivated to be part of it.”
Koch turned pro in 2019 after a stint with MEXX-Watersley International and immediately made an impact, winning Stage 4 of the Simac Ladies Tour in a bunch sprint at just 18 years old. That remains her only Women’s WorldTour stage win, though she has added back-to-back top performances at the German national road race in 2024 and 2025, where she finished on the podium each time.
During her time at Team DSM and its later iterations, she grew into a key support rider across stage races and spring classics, with roles that often saw her work deep into hilly or mountainous terrain. Most recently, she featured prominently in the high mountains of Stage 8 at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, riding alongside young talent Nienke Vinke and Ruth Edwards over the Col de la Madeleine.
FDJ-SUEZ general manager Stephen Delcourt praised Koch’s qualities on and off the bike. “She is a fighter with an attacking spirit, a valuable teammate for her leaders and a champion who embodies our values,” he said. “With her talent and energy, we are convinced that she will make our colours shine.”
Koch’s arrival signals a continued push by FDJ-SUEZ to strengthen its climbing and stage racing core. With her versatility, race craft, and years of WorldTour experience, she is expected to play a key role in the team’s major objectives in 2026 and 2027.
