John Degenkolb extends contract with DSM-Team until 2025

John Degenkolb will continue pedaling in the first cycling league until the end of 2025. His team dsm-unternehmenich PostNL announced the extension of the contract with the Oberursel veteran. This is not how Degenkolb’s successful career ends, as some in the cycling scene had suspected. “It’s a dream to have the chance to extend my contract with the team again,” the professional is quoted as saying in a statement from his Dutch team. “More than ever, my passion for cycling still drives me.”

This passion is fueled above all by one particular race day in April: Paris – Roubaix. Degenkolb’s declared favorite race, in which he was able to unleash special powers last year, for example. Until his unfortunate crash in the race finale, Degenkolb was on course for a podium finish on the tough cobblestone chase. In the end he came seventh in the so-called “Queen of the Classics”.

However, the Hessian by choice has no longer been responsible for top results in series with his racing team. Since his return to the team managed by Iwan Spekenbrink, he has acted as a so-called road captain. This means that he guides his teammates in the race and takes over communication with the sports directors. “It’s so much fun to race alongside all these young athletes, share my experiences and be part of the progress in developing talent,” says the 35-year-old.

Degenkolb had already switched to the Dutch team in 2012, which was then called Argos-Shimano. The best years of his career followed with triumphs at Paris-Roubaix and Milan-Sanremo in 2015 as well as various stage victories at the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana.

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While wearing this team’s jersey, he also suffered a serious accident in Spain in 2016 that could have ended his career, but in retrospect at least slowed it down. In the following five years, in which he rode for the Trek-Segafredo and Lotto-Soudal teams, he was no longer able to build on his performance – with the exception of his emotional stage win at the Tour de France 2018. Now there is another follow-up for Degenkolbs long cycling career. “I’m looking forward to these two years and will enjoy the races more than ever,” said Degenkolb.