TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH
Netherlands
The history
Created in 2005 under the moniker Shimano-Memory Corp and a result of the merger between the Dutch team Bankgiroloterij and Japan’s Shimano, the team progressed with the return to the pack of tool manufacturer Skil. However, in 2012, the team took on a bigger dimension with the support of oil prospection firm Argos North Sea Group and became the flag-bearer for the world’s biggest bicycle manufacturer in the world, the taiwanese company Giant. In 2016, the team moved its registration to Germany sponsored by the Sunweb brand. This year it has a new sponsorship and, thus, a new name thanks to the Dutch health and nutrition company DSM. Since its debut in 2011, the squad rarely failed in its persecution of stage victories. Marcel Kittel had the honor of inaugurating the winning streak in Talavera de la Reina, although it would be his countryman, John Degenkolb, who would be the great victor of this race in 2012, taking home no less than five wins. The Gera sprinter would return two seasons later to emerge victorious from four volatas. Madrid in 2015 would bring his total to ten victories. Following a four-year drought, Nikias Arndt lifted the team’ spirits in 2019. The German rouleur obtained a stage win in Igualada with a reduced sprint to the finish-line due to the rain, beating the young Alex Aranburu in the arrival. In 2021, Romain Bardet and Michael Storer were two of the race’s main stars, with one and two victories under their belts, respectively. Storer also won the King of the Mountain award, just ahead of his teammate. In 2022, it was a young Thymen Arensman who obtained the stage victory for the team at Sierra Nevada.
- Final victory0
- Stages victories20
- Red jerseys6
- Other race Won1
Overall victories: 0
Stage victories: 20
2011: Marcel Kittel, in Talavera de la Reina.
2012: John Degenkolb, Viana, Logroño, Alcañiz. Motorland Aragón, Sanxenxo and Madrid.
2013: Warren Barguil, in Castelldefels and Sallent de Gállego.
2014: John Degenkolb (Córdoba, Ronda, Logroño and La Coruña)
2015: Tom Dumoulin, at El Poble Nou de Benitatxell, and Burgos; John Degenkolb, in Madrid.
2019: Nikias Arndt in Igualada.
2021: Michael Storer, in Balcón de Alicante and Rincón de la Victoria; Romain Bardet in Pico Villuercas.
2022: Thymen Arensman, in Sierra Nevada.
Leader jersey: 6 days
2015: Tom Dumoulin, 6 days.
Victories in secondary classifications: 1
2015: Tom Dumoulin (most aggressive rider)
2021: Michael Storer (mountain)
IN FIGURES
5: sprint victories in a same edition (2012 - John Degenkolb).
KEY DATES
August 20th, 2011: First participation in La Vuelta for the team under the name of Skil-Shimano.
September 9th, 2013: Warren Barguil reveals in La Vuelta with two stage victories in his first year as a professional.
September 12th, 2015: Astana, with his leader Fabio Aru leading the way, attacked red jersey’s Tom Dumoulin in stage 20. The Dutch was forced out of the podium after a dramatic stage.
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