The Dutch-Belgian women’s squad formerly known as DD Group Pro Cycling Team will race under a new name in 2026, continuing its rise in the Continental ranks as Citymesh-Customm Pro Cycling Team. The change follows the end of a three-year partnership with DD Group and the arrival of new title sponsor Citymesh, the Belgian telecom operator whose backing secures the project’s immediate future and reinforces its cross-border identity.
The squad moves into its second season as a UCI Continental team with a clear long-term vision: to grow steadily toward professional status while developing Dutch and Belgian talent through its multi-layered structure, which includes an elite Continental team, a U19 squad and a club-level programme feeding riders upward. It is an approach that allows the project – nicknamed Ploeg op de Root – to retain its local identity while building a competitive future.
Key reinforcements and a balanced roster
The team strengthens again for 2026, introducing several new riders and promoting others from within the setup. Among the headline arrivals are Britt and Senne Knaven, who return to the road after stepping away from professional cycling in 2023. The team has also added Eline van Rooijen and welcomed Lova Dierick and Lotte Duhamel from its development ranks. Meanwhile, eighteen-year-old Kato van Hoecke joins from athletics, another example of the squad’s willingness to nurture athletes from alternative pathways.
Team manager Stijn Peelman explained to WielerFlits that Belgian riders were initially difficult to secure for 2026, until he realised something crucial: Britt and Senne, both raised in a cross-border family, hold Belgian nationality. Once that was confirmed, he said, the roster began to fall into place, giving the team a blend of nine Belgian and seven Dutch riders for the coming campaign.
The Knaven sisters return
The comeback of the Knaven sisters is one of the most uplifting stories around the team this winter. Both retired in 2023 after losing their connection with the sport – Senne following a training crash that triggered a major reassessment, and Britt after recognising that the demands of professional cycling were no longer aligned with how she wanted to live.
Two years on, both have rediscovered their motivation in very different ways. Britt eased her way back into competition with WV De Volharding early in 2025, using local road races to rebuild confidence and enjoyment. Senne initially switched her focus to gravel racing, then realised that a structured road calendar was essential if she wanted to progress. Joining WV Breda helped her reconnect with racing, eventually leading to her return to the peloton.
Their arrival gives Citymesh-Customm a much-needed boost of experience and emotional resilience, and symbolises the kind of second-chance stories the team hopes to facilitate.
Progress on the road in 2025
The team heads into 2026 following a season marked by tangible success. Two UCI wins stood out: Julie Stockman winning GP Immo Zone (1.1) and Manon de Boer taking the Poreč Trophy Ladies (1.2). These victories, combined with a strong presence in smaller races and a growing reputation for developing young riders, underline the effectiveness of the team’s sporting pathway.
Transfers and departures
Riders joining
- Lova Dierick
- Britt Knaven
- Senne Knaven
- Femke Van Goethem
- Kato van Hoecke
- Lotte Van Ombergen
- Eline van Rooijen
Rider departing
- Vera Tieleman (to VolkerWessels Pro Cycling Team)
Citymesh-Customm Pro Cycling Team steps into 2026 with renewed identity, stable backing and an increasingly competitive roster. The ambition to become a fully professional outfit in the years ahead remains intact, and the structure beneath the Continental squad continues to mature.
With new sponsors, returning talents and a clear commitment to Dutch-Belgian development, the team enters the new season with momentum – and with riders like Britt and Senne Knaven offering emblematic proof that progress is not always linear, but can lead somewhere stronger.
Main photo credit: Sophie Richez
