As part of a trifecta of announcements for the Women’s program, after Labous’ recent announcement on Saturday, the team continue to make plans and steps for the future. Georgi will continue with her role as captain, using her vast experience and nous that belies her young age, while also focusing on the classics as a finisher where she makes great improvements year-on-year. While sprint star Kool, fresh off a recent victory at GP Eco-Struct, will be given the opportunity to develop as a sprint finisher; something that the team has great track record with. Kool will ride in the team’s distinctive two-striped jersey until at least the end of 2024, with Georgi contracted through the 2025 season as well.
Still only 21 years old, Georgi has been with Team DSM upon turning professional in 2019 and has steadily grown as an athlete on and off the bike since then. A committed professional, Georgi has overcome bad luck and injury spells, with her 2021 campaign a breakthrough year for the wider public, but not for those within the team. Last season culminated with Georgi taking her first win which was quickly followed up by a very impressive ride to claim the British national title on a challenging course in Lincoln. Building on those performances in 2022, Georgi has further grown in her role as a road captain and an integral member of the team’s sprint and classics blocks, where she herself took a strong ninth at Paris-Roubaix after an attacking race – another sign of her potential for the future.
“I’m really excited to be able to renew my contract even further with Team DSM until the end of 2025,” explained Georgi. “I’m very happy with the progress I’ve made over the last few seasons with the team, and think it is the perfect place to continue my development as we look to even bigger goals together. I have enjoyed stepping into a captain’s role even more this season alongside opportunities as a final rider and I hope to build on both of those aspects in the future. I’m particularly looking forward to targeting some of the Spring Classics in the coming years and also being a part of more wins within the team and sharing nice memories together.”
Team DSM head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Pfeiffer is very important for the energy of the team and she brings a lot of knowledge and tactical skills into our Women’s program. She is a brilliant team member who is always focused and goes 100 percent all-in for the plans and goals. Not only that, but she also brings a really high level on the bike too. Pfeiffer has taken big steps since joining us and we want to continue her development, further building up her overall level. Our first focus will be on the classics where she has shown great talent already and then in the future we will also focus more on her TT, something where we think Pfeiffer has a lot of room for improvement, which will then enable her to be the team’s GC finisher in certain races. She also has really good qualities as a captain and that’s a role she will transition even more into as well.”
Joining Team DSM for the start of the 2022 season Kool has immediately settled in well, forming a formidable part of the team’s sprint group, often acting as last lead out rider where she can utilise her speed and bike handling skills to great effect. Yet, Kool is more than just a lead out rider and someone that has a lot of untapped potential and room for development as a sprint finisher for the team herself. This was put on full display at the recent GP Eco-Struct where Kool powered to sprint victory with ease after a strong lead out from the rest of the squad, claiming her first win for Team DSM and her first at that level in a one-day race. A glimpse of her sprint qualities that the team firmly believes in, Kool aims to build on that result going ahead as she extends her tenure.