Kelvin Dekker, son of renowned Dutch cyclist Erik Dekker, has announced his departure from Team dsm-firmenich PostNL to take up a leading role with the Movistar women’s team next season. Multiple sources have confirmed to Wielerflits that the 28-year-old will transition into his new position after a fruitful tenure marked by key achievements in the women’s peloton.
Dekker, a pivotal figure within Team dsm-firmenich PostNL, was instrumental in guiding the team’s development since he joined in 2020. Previously associated with NXTG Racing, now AG Insurance-Soudal, Dekker took his first steps into team leadership there. However, a clash of perspectives in early 2021 led him to move on from NXTG. In 2022, he briefly ventured into the men’s peloton with a stint at the Allinq team, where his father, Erik Dekker, would later serve as team manager. Nevertheless, Dekker’s passion for women’s cycling saw him return swiftly to the women’s ranks, assuming a key role at dsm-firmenich PostNL.
His work at dsm-firmenich PostNL brought notable successes, including leading Charlotte Kool to two sprint victories at the most recent Tour de France Femmes. Dekker’s commitment to building a competitive environment for the women’s squad made him a prominent figure in their successes.
Despite his enthusiasm to continue with dsm-firmenich’s women’s team, the management’s vision for Dekker differed. They intended to assign him exclusively to the men’s squad, a direction Dekker reportedly felt unaligned with, prompting his decision to explore new horizons. Reflecting on the move, sources close to Dekker suggest he sought “a greater challenge,” which he ultimately found with Movistar.
In his new role, Dekker will work alongside Dutch riders Floortje Mackaij and Marielle Meijering, as well as established names like Marlen Reusser and rising star Cat Ferguson
