John Degenkolb pens one-year contract extension with dsm-firmenich PostNL

As he prepares for his eighth season with dsm-firmenich PostNL, Germany's John Degenkolb has signed a further one-year contract extension with the Dutch WorldTeam, which will bring his ninth year in the team's colours in 2025.

The sprinter-turned-rouleur has enjoyed two spells with dsm-firmenich PostNL and become synonymous with the team's 'go-racing' stripes, first as an out-and-out leader of Giant-Alpecin, and later as an experienced head in the ranks of DSM.

With the team known as dsm-firmenich PostNL in 2024 and ready to race in a new white kit, Degenkolb is raring to go as he commits his future to his team and teammates.

“I’ve spent most of my pro career in what is the now Team dsm-firmenich PostNL environment and it feels like family to me," the German said of the news.

"It’s a dream to get the chance to extend my contract with the team for another year. After my five years away, when I returned to the team in 2022, we made the very conscious decision to take on a new role. It’s so much fun to race alongside all these young athletes, to share my experience, and play a part in the progress and development of their talents."

Read more: dsm-firmenich PostNL launch 2024 teams, goals and jersey

During his first spell with the team between 2012 and 2016, Degenkolb won a remarkable 10 stages of the Vuelta a España, the race's points jersey in 2014, and a Monument double in 2015. With his career at its zenith, the German triumphed in both Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix that year.

His best days may be behind him - a stage win at the 2018 Tour de France is his last WorldTour victory - but Degenkolb still has diamonds in the legs from time to time, and nowhere was this more apparent than in last year's Paris-Roubaix.

The German had enjoyed a consistent Classics campaign and for much of the race appeared more than the match of eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Disaster famously struck on Carrefour de l'Arbre when a tangle with Van der Poel saw Degenkolb come crashing down, along with his dreams of a fairytale victory.

However, the 35-year-old - notoriously a resilient and determined rider - would recover to finish seventh place, an impressive achievement in itself. It is no surprise, then, that Degenkolb takes the confidence from this performance into his next two seasons in dsm-firmenich PostNL colours.

"I take motivation out of the previous season in general, but also in particular from my favourite race, Paris-Roubaix," he said.

"More than ever though I’m still driven by my passion for cycling and everything around it. My big dream is to help the young riders to find that same passion for racing that I have, and I want to be an important piece in the puzzle for the team, helping them to win the biggest cycling races on the calendar.”

Read more: John Degenkolb: Never say DNF

With 142 race days in his back pocket since his last DNF - the most in the peloton - Degenkolb takes a two-pronged approach into the coming seasons. First and foremost, the German is a dependable rider, teammate and leader amongst the team's ranks, but he has also shown that spark of old which could see him win one or two more big races before his career is out.

From the outside, a further two years of Degenkolb in the team he calls home seems like a no-brainer, and for dsm-firmenich head coach Rudi Kemna, the sentiment is no different.

“John has been and is an important rider for us on the bike, and we’ve shared some great moments together in the past, but he is also incredibly important off the bike too. He is a real culture carrier and an experienced guy, who is always motivated and brings energy, but also accountability, to the group," Kemna said.

"He has the right mentality to help bring those around him up to the next level and that is something we value a lot as a team. We’re looking forward to continuing with John for another season, and we’re excited for where that can take us as a team.”