Team DSM build on strong foundations with first contract extensions and renewals in Men and Women programs

Juliette Labous (FRA)

Into her sixth season with Team DSM, Labous is a culture carrier, fitting in well with the team’s ethos and vision; always wanting to push herself to take the next step. A strong all-round rider, Labous has tasted success against the clock where in 2020 she claimed the French tricolour as national time trial champion. Not only strong in the individual events, Labous has proven to be a great part of the support block but also someone who can take good results when in the role of finisher on behalf of the team. Whether that be in one-day races such as Liège-Bastognè-Liège or taking a tilt at the overall classification, with second place at The Women’s Tour and seventh at the Giro d’Italia Donne in 2021 notably strong results. Despite her relatively young age of 23, Labous already has a wealth of experience with the team and some strong foundations that together, they will continue to build on in the future.

“I am super happy to renew my contract with the team for even longer,” expressed Labous. “Since I have been with Team DSM I have always improved steadily. I feel at home in the team environment, and I think the philosophy really fits me and this is just going be the continuity of the work we’ve done together since 2017. I want to keep improving physically to reach big goals in the short term, but mostly with a focus on the long term. The team and I want to develop my GC abilities with the goal of competing for the very best results in races like the Giro or Tour de France. This gives me a lot of confidence and motivation and I really want to work hard and in the right ways, thanks to the expertise we have with our staff, to get the most out of myself that’s possible. The updated contract gives me a lot of serenity in my preparation and training until the end of 2024, which will be an important Olympic year moreover, and it will hopefully help me perform even better. I’m grateful for the team’s trust and I am looking forward to continuing our journey.”

Team DSM head coach Rudi Kemna said: “Ever since Juliette has joined the team; we’ve been really impressed with her commitment and way of working. She fits in well with the team’s vision and brings a lot of added value to us both on and off the bike. Our communication is always on a high level and we’re able to discuss things openly. On the bike, we’ve already made a lot of steps with her in terms of her development, such as her climbing and time trialling, and we want to continue to grow with her in the coming years. With Juliette we see a real focus on the GC where she can use those qualities and attributes to great effect, fighting for top overall results in some of the biggest races in the Women’s peloton in the years to come.”