Continuing to build on their Women’s program’s strong foundations, Team dsm-firmenich are thrilled to announce that an exciting core of their classics and sprint group extend their contracts. Pfeiffer Georgi and Charlotte Kool will ride in the two-striped jersey until at least the end of 2026, while Franziska Koch has a contract with the team through 2025.
Pfeiffer Georgi
Turning professional in 2019, Georgi has progressed year-on-year with the team and has grown as an athlete on and off the bike. 2021 saw her “breakout” year where she took two wins; including an incredible ride at the British national championships on a classics style course in Lincoln. A brilliant team player, Georgi has developed into a decisive and tactically astute road captain; riding with a maturity and wealth of experience that belies her young age of 22. An integral part of the lead-out group, Georgi’s versatility continues to develop with the team and this season she has proven to be one of the brightest prospects in classics racing – taking her first WorldTour level win at the Classic Brugge – De Panne. Building on that further, a monstrous ride at Dwars door de Westhoek saw her lead home a Team dsm-firmenich podium clean sweep, before more recently a dominant performance saw her reclaim the British national title; powering clear on the short final climb. Looking ahead, Georgi aims to continue her upwards trajectory with the team and be part of more successes.
Georgi expressed: “I’ve been with the team since turning pro in 2019 and always really valued in how they had confidence in me long term; focusing on my development. They saw the potential and believed in me to develop myself as a rider and supported me through that. In the first years with the team, I learned a lot, then took on the role of road captain and this year I’ve stepped up more into a leaders role; particularly in the classics. I’m looking forward to the next three years, and we have a strong group of girls. The team is a place I feel really happy and I’m excited to continue here.”
Team dsm-firmenich head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Pfeiffer has been with us since she has turned pro, and it’s been great to see her grow as a rider and person. She is a very talented bike rider and has taken standout results far with the team. With her mindset and abilities, we believe that Pfeiffer can continue to make big steps as a rider with us and battle for top results in the biggest classics in the future. She’s also still young at the age of 22, but already has a lot of experience and a good tactical brain; developing well into a role as road captain too.”
Franziska Koch
Bursting onto the scene upon joining the team in 2019, Koch took a brilliant victory at the Boels Ladies Tour; winning a sprint from a late-attacking trio that escaped after the punchy hills. Still only 23-years-old, Koch is a versatile rider who is strong on the flat but can also ride well on the short and punchy climbs. The former was put on display at the Tour de France Femmes in 2022 where she was given the nickname “Franzerwagen” after an incredible 140 kilometre pull at the front of the bunch before the team would go on to win the sprint. An adept bike handler due to her mountain bike background, Koch also finds herself at home on the rougher terrain with the classics such as Paris-Roubaix, where she took seventh in 2021, and the recent Antwerp Port Epic Ladies, where she was second, is very much her speciality too.
Koch explained: “I’ve grown up in the team and they have formed me as a rider so I’m confident that I can keep growing with the team and achieve some more nice things here. I’m more mature as a person than when I started and happy with who I am here. I want to help the team as much as possible when needed but also be able to then ride the finals in the races that suit me too. A good example is Pfeiffer who has done the same. We started in the team at the same time, and she has stepped up as a leader this year and it’s motivating and inspiring to then follow her. I already enjoy sharing my knowledge with the young riders so I’m looking forward to continuing that too.”
Team dsm-firmenich head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Franziska is an important culture carrier in the team and is someone with a great attitude who will always give everything for the team’s goals. She’s a strong and important rider for both the lead-out and the classics too. We want to continue her development and growth as a rider off and on the bike, making the next steps in her career. In particular, she will become a finisher more often for the team in the classics in the upcoming seasons.”
Charlotte Kool
A new member of the Team dsm-firmenich squad in 2022, Kool immediately settled in well as part of a formidable sprint group, showcasing her speed and positioning skills as last lead-out rider. When given the chance as the team’s finisher she also seized that opportunity, claiming two wins and her first at WorldTour level. This season has seen Kool elevate her game to another level as the main sprint finisher for the team. Starting with a bang, she finished off some strong teamwork to win on the Women’s program’s first race day of the season at the UAE Tour and since then she has gone on to take a whopping 11 wins so far in 2023. Those wins include her first La Vuelta Femenina success, four victories in a row at the Baloise Ladies Tour, plus two stage wins and the overall title at the sprinter friendly RideLondon Classique; her first GC success. With her eyes firmly set on the future, Kool aims to build on those results in the future as she extends her tenure with the team.
Kool said: “I am super excited that we stay together until at least 2026. In my opinion and feeling, there’s no better team at this moment that fits me more than Team dsm-firmenich. My teammates, the coaches, my trainer, the experts; actually, the whole team feels like the perfect fit for me, and I still get excited to work with them every day. I’m looking forward to building together towards the next goals in my career and I just want to continue winning races together. This team believed in me from the start, and the journey and steps we have made together so far explains why there was no doubt for me in extending with the team.”
Team dsm-firmenich head coach Rudi Kemna expressed: “Since Charlotte joined us last year it has been great to have her in the team. Not only is she a world class sprinter but she is a world class teammate, and she’s really helped our new riders settle in, taking that responsibility. Someone that is always open to advice, she works really well with our experts and that is evident with the steps she has made on the bike this season. We want to continue that upwards trajectory and win more races at the highest level together with Charlotte.”