Tiesj Benoot became the umpteenth early departure in the long list at Team DSM on Tuesday. Sporza went looking for an explanation for the pattern in the WorldTour squad. This morning you could read how (former) cyclists denounce the many rules, in this article the sporting effect is criticized.
In the first part you could already read how a lack of flexibility sows a lot of dissatisfaction within Team DSM.
Another tricky point, according to our witnesses, is the atmosphere and relationship with the sporting leadership. It sounds like a lack of family feeling.
“The staff, for example, is a dovecote. It’s a coming and going. It even got to the point where sports directors couldn’t name the riders they met before the race,” said a rider who wished to remain anonymous.
“The team doesn’t realize it’s working with humans instead of robots. They want 33 riders who all 33 do the same and think the same. But actually you are dealing with 33 individuals.”
“Every rider has a different character and a different position within the team. For one works this and for the others that works. Riders should actually be different be treated within a team.”
The team doesn’t realize it’s working with humans instead of robots. They want 33 riders who all 33 do the same and think the same.
According to another rider, there is no room for personal ambitions at DSM. “Cycling is a team sport. But at DSM they focus on the whole in such a way that your personal ambitions are not fulfilled.”
“The team actually felt communist, there is a Soviet regime. The individual does not count, everything revolves around the big picture.”
Waeytens: “At DSM they have lost the essence of cycling. It no longer matters that a rider feels happy. Science is one thing, but humanity is also something.”
The ex-rider illustrates with an extra anecdote: “Most teams look for team building, but at DSM they didn’t organize anything to improve the group atmosphere.”
“It was the riders themselves who then took the initiative to go karting during our rest day on stage in Spain. Leaders Dumoulin, Barguil and Matthews paid everything, the staff did not interfere.”
Team DSM has not had its best year.
“Sports leadership is often not fair, riders feel misunderstood”
A few riders who do not want to be named are also critical of team manager Iwan Spekenbrink and head coach Rudi Kemna.
“The better the team got, the more problems there were with the sporting leadership of the team. They were often not honest and consciously said things that were wrong in order to push through their vision.”
“Rudi Kemna in particular was not always correct. It often happens that riders started asking whether they could also stay on board at DSM the following season. Kemna then told certain riders that he couldn’t say that for sure yet.”
“Those riders were kept on a leash for months. The team then waited until September to offer those riders a cheaper contract. That was a recurring phenomenon.”
The better the team got, the more problems there were with the sporting leadership of the team. They were often not fair.
Moreover, according to several riders, the management was not open to reason. “If you have a discussion with Spekenbrink and Kemna, you will not reach a compromise.”
“With every counter-argument you make, they keep repeating their same point of view. After a while you think, “They don’t get it.””
“As a rider you no longer feel understood and you lose the courage to talk to the sporting leadership. People leave the team because they no longer feel understood.”
Iwan Spekenbrink.
“They didn’t want to see that Dumoulin’s departure was their fault”
“The worst thing is that Kemna and Spekenbrink never question themselves. If 2 riders break their contract, you can still say that it may be due to their character. But if 10 riders cancel their contract displeased, then it is no longer a coincidence.” says a foreign rider.
“When Tom Dumoulin broke his contract in 2019, we thought they would see their mistakes. But unfortunately. They responded that it “isn’t always easy working with Tom.”
Another rider confirms: “Tom left early because the team had made mistakes. But the team responded: “No, we didn’t make any mistakes. We are right.” Then management’s credibility quickly crumbles.”
Benoot is the superpro par excellence. The fact that he is leaving DSM says it all.
“The sporting leadership’s motto is: ‘If someone leaves, it’s because he doesn’t fit into our system.’ For example, about Barguil they said it was “a special one.””
“But Tiesj Benoot is one of the most honest riders in the peloton. He is the superpro par excellence. The fact that Benoot is leaving DSM says it all.”
“Which rider or manager still dares to go to DSM to sign a contract there?”
