Team dsm-firmenich PostNL and making steps towards closing the gender gap in pro cycling

Since its inception under its current guise back in 2008, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL has gradually grown through the ranks as an entity and can proudly boast three programs operating under the same umbrella with their Men, Women and Development programs, as they aim to inspire people from all of walks of life with their Keep Challenging approach.

One team, one goal.

A pioneer in the sport, the team has been a forerunner in women’s cycling, setting up their very own Women’s program in 2011. This was further expanded upon in 2017 with the introduction of their Development program; highlighting the team’s will to provide a platform for riders of both genders and multiple ages to develop, perform and compete.

From early adopters to seasoned veterans

Since then, the team has continued to expand and develop, and has had many successful seasons in the women’s peloton, taking multiple victories at the highest level of the sport. The team – like those in their Men’s program – has seen multiple athletes grow into leading star riders in the women’s peloton, all while wearing the team’s colours with those distinctive Keep Challenging stripes at its core.

Small steps to progress

Through the team’s unique performance model of Keep Challenging, a mantra that can also be applied to daily life, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL’s staff and riders are always striving to grow into the best versions of themselves that they can be.

The team’s holistic approach – all programs operating under the same umbrella – allows the team’s three programs to benefit from shared expertise and knowledge of the ever-changing and expansive world of professional cycling.

It’s not just expertise and scientific knowledge that is shared, resources and materials are too. This can be seen for example with team chefs at all three women’s Grand Tours to prepare personalised nutrition, High Altitude Camps for the most advanced training and optimal preparations towards the biggest races of the calendar with the best equipment. This led to great team performances such as podiums at big one-day races like Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen or in the overall standings at the Giro d’Italia, plus stage victories at all three of the Grand Tours.

The gap is closing, at pace

The incredible growth of the women’s side of the sport in the past years is something to be applauded. Racing has quite frankly never been more exciting. This can be seen with the massive interest and viewing figures for some of the biggest races on the calendar.All three programs operating under the same umbrella allows all of the team’s riders to benefit from shared expertise and knowledge of the ever-changing and expansive world of professional cycling. And it’s not just expertise and scientific knowledge that is shared, resources and materials are too. This can be seen for example with personalised nutrition during Grand Tours, altitude camps for the most advanced training and optimal preparations for the biggest races with the best equipment.

Delivering a strong message; ahead of the curve

However, for the sport to continue to progress, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL believes that more action needs to be taken.

With the help of our co-title partner PostNL, who share the same ideology on sustainability, health, inclusiveness and outlook on equal chances in life, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL proudly announced earlier this month, that from next year the minimum salary for World Tour neo-pros and World Tour elite contracts will be the same for both their Men and Women programs.

Steps to bridge the payment gap like this are crucial to further develop and professionalise the sport alongside its commercial growth, to give female athletes access to the same resources as their male counterparts and enable them to make a genuine and comfortable living from doing what they love the most.

Step by Step

Hear what was said from both parties about the exciting news as we make the next step together.

Team dsm-firmenich PostNL Head of Finance and Operations Marloes Poelman: ‘’There is still a way to go to for women’s elite racing as a whole to professionalise and reach true equality. We must consider important aspects such as improving safety standards, the economic model underpinning this professional sport, TV coverage, accommodation of team personnel and facilities at races, and modernising the global cycling calendar for men and women’s events to better coincide and complement one another; to name a few examples. These are all steps that we hope to see in the upcoming years and that we will play our part in to help progress.

“Giving athletes the same opportunities and access to the same resources is something that we have always believed in – you see this with our Women, Men, and Development programs all intertwined and operating underneath the same umbrella. Having PostNL on board as co-title partner provides us with the opportunity to make a step towards closing the gap in a financial respect. We feel it’s a logical step and hope to build on this together in the future with the rest of the sport.”

PostNL CEO Herna Verhagen concluded: “We’re a proud partner of Team dsm-firmenich PostNL and we’re happy to see a very important next step will take place starting January 2025. Amongst many other actions to further support the development of female cyclists, equalising the minimum salaries for the Women and Men programs is a very important step. At PostNL we ensure equal pay for equal work. Closing the financial gap between male and female employees has been a crucial aspect to start the partnership with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL.”