Smurfit Westrock have strengthened their sprint and classics armoury for 2026 with the signing of Dutch rider Cecilia van Zuthem, who joins after three seasons in the WorldTour with Fenix-Deceuninck. At 22, she arrives as a developing but already reliable finisher, combining raw speed with the grit required for demanding northern one-day races.
Van Zuthem has progressed steadily since stepping up from WV Schijndel in 2022. Her WorldTour apprenticeship at Fenix-Deceuninck exposed her to some of the hardest racing on the calendar, and she has built a reputation for fast positioning, resilience under pressure and a punchy acceleration that can carry her deep into selective finales. Results through 2023, 2024 and 2025 underline that trajectory, with consistent top-10s in Belgian and Dutch 1.1 races and improving rides when the courses get harder.
Her 2025 campaign included fourth at the Volta NXT Classic and fifth at the Midwest Cycling Classic, while 2024 featured top-five finishes at the ZLM Omloop der Kempen Ladies and a strong sixth at the Omloop van Borsele. In her first full WorldTour year, she impressed with ninth at both Ronde de Mouscron and GP Immo Zone, before adding a top-10 on the opening stage of Setmana Ciclista Valenciana.
Team Manager Rick Lister said the move fits perfectly with the squad’s ambitions for next season, explaining that Van Zuthem’s profile gives them both depth and flexibility in fast finales and mid-length classics. As he put it, “Cecilia is a rider with huge potential and a skill set that really complements our direction for 2026. She’s fast, committed, and has the resilience needed for big days in the classics. We’re delighted she’s chosen to make the move from Fenix-Deceuninck and join our project.”
For Van Zuthem, the step represents a chance to take on more responsibility and refine her identity as either a dedicated sprinter or a versatile classics rider. Her combination of speed, race craft and toughness makes her an ideal fit for a squad shaping a more assertive approach to both their sprint and northern campaigns.
Smurfit Westrock describe the Dutch rider as an exciting addition to their developing roster, and the signing signals a clear intent: to bring in riders who can compete aggressively across early-season races and deliver consistency through the core European classics block.
