Team dsm-firmenich are thrilled to reveal that the talented Ilian Barhoumi and Vincent Bodet will join their Development program next season. Both riders have a contract with the team that will see them ride with the team through the 2025 campaign.
Photo Credit: Asia Mazzuola
Ilian Barhoumi
A powerful and strong multi-discipline cyclist, Barhoumi has had success on the road but also in mountain-bike during his time as a junior rider so far. Transferring those technical skills gained from riding through the dirt and mud, Barhoumi was able to show himself as someone suited to the classics in his opening year as a junior; taking a brilliant third place at E3. Good results followed before he would go on to claim the Swiss national road race title in a two-up sprint after a hard day out. It is a title that he would go on to double-up with, claiming the victory in 2023 in dominant fashion, winning by over three minutes to his nearest opponent. This season has seen Barhoumi utilise his punchy nature and good bike skills well, winning the U19 version of Strade Bianche (the Eroica Juniors Siena – Montalcino), claiming a tenth place at Paris-Roubaix, and most recently third overall on GC at Valromey Juniors.
Barhoumi said: “Team dsm-firmenich has a very special approach to many aspects of cycling and that’s what attracted me to the team. I’m really looking forward to discovering new people and cultures; the staff, teammates and everyone really. I’m also excited to settle into the team and how they work. In the juniors I would say that I’m a bit of an all-rounder, as I can climb, go on the flat, the cobbles – but of course we will see next year how I develop as it is a big step up. I want to grow as a human and an athlete in the coming years and help the team achieve the goals that we set together. Of course, I also want to win with the team too if possible. I’m someone that is calm and thoughtful, so I think that can help the team in different situations, both in race and out of the races.”
Team dsm-firmenich head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Ilian is the current Swiss road race champion, and he won Strade Bianche for the juniors; both results which highlight his abilities and potential. He is a powerful rider that in the juniors has done well in classics-style races but also on the climbs too, for example, he finished in the top ten on the Grand Colombier stage at Valromey Juniors which for someone of his physical body composition is impressive. At the moment we don’t want to set Ilian down a specific path for his development but instead we want him to grow in general as a rider with the team, before looking further into where his specialities lie in the future.”
Photo Credit: Mickael Pibolleau
Vincent Bodet
Starting his junior career in perfect fashion in the 2022 season, Bodet won his first race of the year at the Mapei Classic in France. Building on that result a stage win at the Tour du Pays d’Olliergues followed in May before a succession of solid and consistent results throughout the rest of the campaign, such as fifth at GP Plouay Juniors and three top five finishes in time trials. This season has seen Bodet continue to impress over mixed terrain, once again showing himself in the efforts against the clock at Ster van Zuid-Limburg and Chrono 47 Juniors. The climbs are also to Bodet’s liking too, and he achieved fifth overall at Gipuzkoa Klasikoa, second at Tour du Pays d’Ollergues and fifth on GC at Trophée Morbihan. Further proving himself at a consistent level, he just missed out on the French tricolor recently with a second place in the national TT.
Bodet expressed: “What attracted me to Team dsm-firmenich was the mentality they have of bringing each rider to the highest level and always surpassing themselves be their best possible version. I look forward to being part of the team and the very professional environment, whether that be on or off the bike. I see myself now as more of a climber, and I like time trials hope to be able to develop in the GCs too. I want to progress as much as possible year-after-year with the team and hopefully win some races; whether that be me that crosses the line first or one of the other guys.”
Team dsm-firmenich head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Vincent has shown some good performances this year, but we believe that he still has a big progression margin, as for example, he doesn’t ride with a power meter now so with our group of experts and the materials we have available, then we can finetune his training even further. He has shown his climbing abilities where he has secured good results on hard days in the saddle and taken several strong results in the overall classifications of races. We’re looking forward to welcoming Vincent into the team and working closely with him over the coming seasons to help further his progress overall as a cyclist.”