Team dsm-firmenich PostNL are thrilled to reveal that Bjoern Koerdt and Mara Roldan will join their Men’s and Women’s programs next season. Koerdt has already raced with the team as a stagiaire in the second half of 2024 and will continue to wear the two-striped jersey through 2026, while young Canadian youngster Roldan is set to ride with the team until at least the end of 2027.
Bjoern Koerdt
Born in Leeds in the United Kingdom, Koerdt comes from a multi-disciplined cycling background having competed in both cyclocross and mountain bike, alongside road racing. Some good and consistent results in the junior ranks saw him make the trip across the sea for his first two years at the U23 level, riding with French team CC Étupes. Honing his ability on the tough French national circuit, Koerdt ably supported his teammates in his opening season but also picked some strong results himself, such as third overall at the Classic-Souvenir Antonin Landre. Coming into 2024, Koerdt continued to make steps in his development and had great form at the end of March and beginning of April where he won the Boucle de l’Artois and Tour du Charollais. A punchy rider who can get over the climbs, Koerdt joined Team dsm-firmenich PostNL as a stagiaire in 2024 and has since impressed with good rides at the Arctic Race of Norway and Deutschland Tour; before going on to ride his home-race at the Tour of Britain and then helping the team and Max Poole to GC victory at Tour de Langkawi.
Koerdt expressed: “I’ve really enjoyed my time with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL this year as a stagiaire. The racing format and how things go at this level are a little bit different than in the U23 ranks but there are also a lot of similarities at the same time, so I think things went well. I’m someone who is quite a direct and structed person and I don’t really beat around the bush so to speak, so I think the professional environment and structured support from the team is something that really suits me. This is one of the biggest teams in the world and I’m open for any input and ideas that they have, and I think it’s a great opportunity to learn from everyone around me so I can develop as a rider. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next few years bring.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Bjoern has already been part of the team as a stagiaire since August and in that time, he has really impressed us with not only his level on the bike but his attitude off it. He’s taken part in only Pro level races with us but has proven himself to be a great teammate over a variety of terrain, and he is someone who can handle the punchy climbs; recently supporting Max [Poole] and the team to the overall GC win at Tour de Langkawi. With the help of our experts and staff, we think that Bjoern can continue to improve as he makes the step up to WorldTour.”
Photo Credit: Veloimages
Mara Roldan
From the province of Yukon in Canada, Roldan only tried road cycling for the first time in 2019. After then, she continued to race mostly nationally in the junior ranks in 2021 and 2022, before making the step up to elite level last year, whilst still riding some U23 events. The 2024 campaign has been a fruitful one for the young Canadian talent with her team Cynisca Cycling. Starting off the season brilliantly, she claimed two stage wins and third overall at Redlands Classic in the USA, before her European adventure began in May. Consistent results at Bretagne Ladies Tour and Volta Ciclista a Catalunya saw her return to Canada in fine form, where Roldan powered to the U23 national TT title and finished third in the elite road race; meaning she also took the U23 jersey there too. Heading back over the Atlantic Ocean, it didn’t take long for her to take her first win in Europe with an impressive display on the uphill finish on stage two at the Volta a Portugal. Roldan has continued to prove her consistency over a mix of terrain with 14th place overall at Baloise Ladies Tour being an example of that, with that result including a top ten in both a sprint stage and the time trial.
Roldan expressed: “I am excited to be taking this next step in my cycling career with Team dsm-firmenich PostNL. I have watched this team race on television and looked up to so many of their racers throughout my time as a cyclist. I have a fond memory of ex-rider Leah Kirchman coming to visit us at Watersley during my first junior project with the Canadian National team and giving us some team kit. I have held onto this kit for the last two years, and to think that now I get to be a part of this team myself and represent them at the top level still feels surreal. I was immediately attracted to this team, inspired by the champions they have developed, and by the history and success they have had on the professional circuit. Their vision to always keep challenging and achieve victory through working together as a team is something that also really aligns with me. In 2024 I had the chance to compete against the team, and I was always impressed and inspired to see how well they race together as a unit. For the upcoming seasons, my goal is to keep challenging myself and developing my strengths and skills as a racer. I am eager to explore my potential with this team and to have the opportunity to test my all arounder abilities against the best in the world. I still have much to learn, but I am confident that with the team’s guidance, mentoring and support then I can continue to grow. The strengths I believe I can bring to this team are my mental resilience and grit, my ability to race multiple different terrains, conditions, and style of races, as well as my positivity, as I always try to find the bright side and learning opportunity in every situation. I really look forward to what lies ahead.”
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Mara has proven herself as a strong rider in the American scene this year where she has won races; doing well in time trials and on the climbs. Originally coming from a mountain bike background, she brings those skills to road cycling, and she has impressed those in the bunch, and our own riders, with that. Now she looks to be someone who can excel in the Flemish and Ardennes classics where the short climbs suit her abilities, but as she is still young, we want to help her develop overall and in the coming years find out where her specialism lies.”