Team DSM complete 2023 roster; Mauro Brenner, Dylan Hicks, Enzo Leijnse, Becky Storrie

Team DSM are pleased to confirm the final names to their 2023 roster with today’s announcement. Mauro Brenner and Dylan Hicks are recruited to their Development program, while Enzo Leijnse continues his journey with Development Team DSM; and Becky Storrie joins the Women’s program.

Brenner will wear the team’s colours until at least the end of 2024, while Hicks, Leijnse and Storrie have contracts through the 2023 season with the respective programs.

Photo Credit: Cor Vos

Mauro Brenner (GER)

Into his second year in the junior category, Brenner has progressed season-on-season with the team that was set up by his older brother and current Team DSM rider, Marco. 2021 saw Brenner perform solidly throughout the year with his highlight moment being the victory at RiderMan Juniors. This season has seen Brenner continue his development and he started 2022 with a bang, taking wins at Schwarzbräu-Straßenpreis Juniors and Rund um Schönaich alongside four other top ten results in his first six races. More recently, he impressed by winning the sprint, points and mountain jerseys at LVM Saarland Trofeo Juniors in June, before a strong 12th on GC at GP Rüebliland Juniors in September and helping his German teammate to the world title.

Brenner said: “I’m really looking forward to joining Team DSM and their Development program next season. The team is one that I have always looked up to and they have a good record of bringing through talent. I’ve heard good things from Marco and after meeting people during the team meeting week, I’m excited to get started. I want to learn as much as possible from the staff and riders, and I will give my all for them, as I try to become the best cyclist I can.”

Team DSM head coach Rudi Kemna added: “We’ve had some really nice talks with Mauro and he is a committed and driven individual. On the bike this year he has had some bad luck but he has shown a really strong mentality to get back to a good level. Mauro has shown in juniors that he is a true team player while also being strong on the bike too. Like all our new Development program riders, we want to give him the space to grow as both a rider and as a person as he makes the transition into the next level of the sport.”

Photo Credit: Freddy Guérin / DirectVelo

Dylan Hicks (GBR)

Combining track and road racing throughout his time as a junior, Dylan Hicks is currently part of the GB Junior Academy while also riding for Backstedt Bike Performance JRT on the road. His 2021 saw Hicks race mostly on the British domestic circuit with some good performances at the Junior Tour of Yorkshire and Junior Tour of Wales. This year has seen Hicks continue his combination of track and road, claiming bronze medals in both the madison and team pursuit at the junior European championships. Taking those fast legs and punchy attributes to the road, Hicks has showed he can handle the cobbles well with second places at Willy Schroeder Memorial and Trofee van Vlaanderen Juniors, plus a brilliant win at the Junior CiCLE Classic. An unfortunate period of illness and injury blighted the rest of Hicks’ final junior season, but that has only made him more motivated as he makes the step up to the U23 ranks in 2023.

Hicks said: “I really wanted to join Development Team DSM as I love their work ethic and drive to succeed. I am looking forward to developing and growing into the U23 ranks, and getting some big opportunities with the team. At the moment I consider myself to be an explosive but all round rider, but of course there is room to grow in all areas and I’m excited to getting started.”

Team DSM head coach Rudi Kemna expressed: “Dylan is a young talent that came on our radar through our good connection with British Cycling. He showed throughout the year some strong sprint finishes, his win in the Junior CiCLE Classic was particularly impressive. He’s also had some tough times with crashes and illness but has bounced back strongly. With his track background we believe that he has the potential to further grow and develop as a rider with us.”

Photo Credit: Cor Vos

Enzo Leijnse (NED)

Having spent three seasons with Development Team DSM, Leijnse has made steps each year with the team. 2020 saw him learn his trade from those around him, picking up an impressive seventh place at the European championships time trial as a first year U23 and he was an important cog in the team’s, team time trial win at Ronde de l’Isard. A strong engine, Leijnse’s ability to put down the power is one of his biggest strengths and he’s continued to pick up strong results against the clock with fifth in the Dutch national championships in 2021 which he followed up with third place this year. Someone that is willing to go all in for others, Leijnse is an important member of the Development program and now heading into his fourth year; will look to share that experience with the newer crop of riders.

Leijnse said: “I’ve had a good three years with the team so far and I’m looking forward to starting another season in the Development program. I think throughout the years I’ve made some nice steps and grown as a rider and person here, becoming more mature and confident in myself both on and off the bike. I would say I’m happy with my current trajectory and things are on track. Next year I want to continue to grow and show myself in the final of races, perform well in time trials and of course help the guys as best as possible when that is my role.”

Team DSM head coach Rudi Kemna added: “Enzo has taken steps year on year with the team, and he has really grown not only as a rider but also as a person too, maturing and gaining more self-confidence. Heading into his fourth season with us, Enzo’s experience will be of help to the younger guys coming in. On the bike we want to help Enzo continue that progression he has had with us, becoming stronger and further improve as a rider.”

Photo Credit: Harry Paine

Becky Storrie (GBR)

Hailing from the Isle of Man, Storrie is a former triathlete who had a sporting scholarship at the University of Stirling but unfortunately, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue in 2019. On her way to recovery, she made the switch full time to cycling – taking part in her first proper road race that year. Since then, she has risen through the British domestic scene, winning the Scottish road race championships in 2021 and has combined her riding on the road with Esports too. Continuing that progression in 2022, Storrie took an impressive two stage wins, the overall title and one second place, behind her teammate, at the challenging The Peaks 2 Day national race in the United Kingdom, which she followed up with a win at the notorious Lincoln International GP in May. 2022 has also seen Storrie hone her race craft with the opportunity to race in the European peloton, where she took a promising eighth on GC at the Vuelta a Andalucia, finished 15th overall at the Women’s Tour and claimed an impressive sixth place in the Commonwealth Games time trial against some established opposition.

Upon joining Team DSM Storrie said: “I am excited to be stepping up to the WorldTour with Team DSM. They are a team that I have admired since I started cycling and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been offered this opportunity. The team has a real emphasis on development and I am confident that this environment will allow me to maximise my potential as a rider. I am looking forward to working with the team and gaining experience at this level. I believe that together we can achieve great things.”

Team DSM head coach Rudi Kemna continued: “Becky already came onto our scouting team’s radar two years ago and we’ve followed her progress since then. Having made the switch from triathlon to full-time cycling only relatively recently, we think that she still has a big margin to progress and improve. Physically she has some really interesting qualities and is someone with potential as a climber and time trial rider. Of course, there is more to bike racing than the physical aspect, so we will work closely together with Becky to help her step-by-step development and complete her transformation from triathlete to cyclist.”