Team DSM confirm new coaches for 2023

Team DSM are happy to announce that Kelvin Dekker, Callum Ferguson, Christian Guiberteau and Joey Van Rhee will join their coaching staff for the 2023 season. This news follows on from the team’s restructured approaching to coaching last year, which sees select groups of riders work within a given specialism and block – sprint, classics and GC – to help streamline their training and progression.

Speaking about the new staff, Team DSM head coach Rudi Kemna said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Kelvin, Callum, Christian and Joey to the team. Christian of course is a former colleague and we’ve always kept in contact with each other, so it will be really nice to reconnect and work with him again. In the talks we’ve had with Kelvin, Callum and Joey, we can see they are all incredibly driven and passionate individuals, who all complement and strengthen our coaching group in different ways. They’ve all worked extremely hard to get to where they are now and it gives us pleasure to give them the platform to showcase their talents as coaches.”

 

Dekker joins from Allinq Continental Cycling team where he has been performance manager which he combined with a role in cycling development at the Watersley Sports and Talentpark; having previously been a team leader at NXTG Racing. With a focus on the Women’s program, Dekker will also work in the other programs of the team throughout the year too, embedding into the team structure.

Dekker said: “I’m looking forward to working within the professional structure of Team DSM. I’ve been passionate about cycling for as long as I can remember, and later this passion was joined with that for coaching and making people better at what they’re doing. I love how the team sees coaching as a true profession and that’s what makes my drive to work at the team even bigger. I’m young and this is only the beginning, but I have a lot of ambition to keep Team DSM a winning team.”

Ferguson is a former rider himself who has honed his skills and craft as a coach, working both privately, but also with the Zappi Racing Team and Mg-Kvis Colours For Peace where he has helped to mould and grow several young talents. Like Dekker, Ferguson will work alongside different programs to further learn about the team, but will have a main focus on the Men’s program.

Ferguson added: “After conversations with Rudi, I realised the values of the team matched mine. The development and progression of the riders is vital. Plans made by the staff is what makes this team run so smoothly and this is what makes me so excited to get underway and start working with both riders and staff.  With previous teams I’ve learned a lot being about being a coach in the majority of the U23 world’s best races. I understand what it takes to be a coach at this level; being clever isn’t just tactics but listening to the riders is just as important. I’m excited to put what I’ve learned from my previous years into practice with Team DSM.”

Guiberteau returns to Team DSM having been a valued member between 2011 to 2015, and since then has been part of the coaching staff at Cofidis where he has helped take them from ProContinental level to the WorldTour. Guiberteau will take a more hands on role as responsible coach for the staff at races, while he will also support the Men’s program.

Guiberteau expressed: “I still remember the good memories of my years in the team from 2011 to the end of 2015 and after a time of separation, I am very happy to be back. I will have to adapt again to the team which has continued to develop and has become a great structure. I’m motivated and eager to start working this winter, with a function that sees me work closely with the staff, to continue my adventure with Team DSM again for the coming seasons.”

Van Rhee rode his bike on the Continental European scene before hanging up his wheels and starting coaching with a focus on mentality – helping youngster Pim Ronhaar to a cyclocross world title. Van Rhee will find his feet in the team and continue to grow as a coach, working more specifically with the Development program but also gaining experience working alongside other coaches from the Men’s program.

Van Rhee said: “I’m really happy and excited with the opportunity to join and work at Team DSM. I am looking forward to getting the best out of each rider, not only physically but also personally and mentally too. As a coach I believe that your whole system, physically and mentally, have to work together to get the best out of yourself and I want to help guide the riders to do just that.”

Team DSM would like to thank Huub Duijn, Marcel Sieberg and Boris Zimine for all of their hard work and efforts over the past seasons; and wish them all the best in their next roles.