DSM-Firmenich PostNL have introduced that Romain Bardet has prolonged his contract with the crew by way of the top of 2025 with a view to retiring from street racing subsequent summer time and turning his focus to gravel racing.
Bardet has been with the German crew since becoming a member of from AG2R La Mondiale in 2021 and he is set to tackle one remaining Grand Tour on the 2025 Giro d’Italia earlier than his remaining outing on the street on dwelling floor on the Critérium du Dauphiné subsequent June.
The information implies that 2024 will likely be Bardet’s final full season on the street, with the upcoming Tour de France set to be his remaining outing at his dwelling Grand Tour.
“I’ve actually loved my time with the crew up to now so for me, it was a no brainer to both proceed with them or absolutely finish my profession,” Bardet stated. “I’m very grateful for the connection I’ve with all of the crew members and for the belief that the administration is placing in me.
“I used to be not likely certain if I wished to proceed biking, however I nonetheless really feel that I can carry worth and preserve chasing large outcomes with the crew, so I’m pleased that we’re going into one other 12 months collectively to do one thing a bit particular.”
Bardet will proceed to compete after leaving the street behind, opting to change to gravel in a transfer that, his crew says, ‘allows him to nonetheless discover that aggressive edge whereas having the ability to spend extra time along with his younger household’.
The 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships in Good, set to be held in October subsequent 12 months, will likely be Bardet’s large objective after making the transition, he stated.
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“For me, that is the way in which I dreamed of ending my profession,” Bardet stated. “I hope to nonetheless chase some large victories with the crew in 2025, particularly within the Giro, to attempt to get the lacking stage win there. I additionally really feel that I need to give the crew one thing again on this race after doing it collectively thrice.
“I may also preserve working with the youthful riders within the crew and assist them develop in the direction of their GC targets. The Dauphiné will likely be my remaining street race, as it’s my favorite race on the calendar. It’s actually mountainous and near the place I stay. These are the roads I used to coach on rather a lot, so there could not be a greater place to complete my street profession.
“After that, I’m actually excited to deal with a brand new problem and do gravel racing with the help of the crew. It will likely be a type of transition for me, however I’ll do my finest in a number of the World Cups and hope to additionally do nicely within the World Championships in Good in 2025.”
Bardet is about to go away street racing behind having racked up 10 wins – and counting – throughout a profession which began again in 2012. He has stage wins at each the Vuelta a España and Tour de France (three on the latter) to his title, in addition to two podium spots on the Tour again in 2016 and 2017.
Highlights of his 2024 season up to now have included fifth on the Tour of the Alps, second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and a prime 10 on the Giro d’Italia.
DSM head coach Rudi Kemna known as Bardet a “true skilled” and stated that he and the crew are excited to work with him in 2025 as he strikes from street to gravel racing.
“It has actually been a pleasure to work with Romain over the previous few seasons. He’s a real skilled who all the time provides his all for the game and provides vitality to these round him,” stated Kemna.
“We have seen Romain not solely carry out brilliantly on the bike with us, however he has a ardour for serving to these round him, and with a voice of knowledge and tranquility, he helps to information and mentor the younger up-and-coming GC skills inside the crew.
“We’re excited that we are able to proceed working with him in his remaining 12 months on the street and be there to help him as he takes on his new journey in gravel racing.”
