Nico
Denz

After spending all of his professional career racing for a French team, Nico wanted a change of scenery with the German happy to make the switch to Team DSM in 2020.

“I spent seven years in France so I just wanted to find a new challenge and keep on learning as a rider. It is really structured in the team and I am a structured person, for example I like my training to be clear, plus I like the philosophy of the team. I think the team will suit me well because of that. I also like that the team came to me early and showed interest in me, it was a confidence booster.”

A versatile rider who admits that his love are the classics, Nico wants to develop in those races and dreams of featuring at the front of the biggest races, helping the team to victories.

However, it was the 2005 Tour de France that got him into the sport of cycling itself. Coming from a non-cycling family, Nico remembers watching the race on TV and being inspired to get out on his bike and go racing. Initially he kept up his other activities of karate, running and playing the drums, but soon stopped everything to focus on cycling once he realised he was “quite good at it” and fell in love with the sport.

“I like the speed, comparing myself with others, the challenge of it all. I’m a racer, I always want to keep progressing and get better. The only limit is yourself.”

An outgoing and approachable person, Nico is also switched-on when he is off the bike and is currently studying Commerce in his spare time. Although he doesn’t put any extra time pressure on finishing his course as he wants to focus on his cycling, instead using his study as a good way to get away from the cycling world.

“A normal office person does sport to relax from work but I do the opposite to challenge my brain.”

When he is not studying, you can find Nico socialising with his family and friends at home.