DSM-Firmenich PostNL have introduced that Romain Bardet has prolonged his contract with the workforce via the top of 2025 with a view to retiring from highway racing subsequent summer season and turning his focus to gravel racing.
Bardet has been with the German workforce since becoming a member of from AG2R La Mondiale in 2021 and he is set to tackle one ultimate Grand Tour on the 2025 Giro d’Italia earlier than his ultimate outing on the highway on residence floor on the Critérium du Dauphiné subsequent June.
The information signifies that 2024 can be Bardet’s final full season on the highway, with the upcoming Tour de France set to be his ultimate outing at his residence Grand Tour.
“I’ve actually loved my time with the workforce to date so for me, it was a no brainer to both proceed with them or absolutely finish my profession,” Bardet stated. “I’m very grateful for the connection I’ve with all of the workforce members and for the belief that the administration is placing in me.
“I used to be not likely positive if I wished to proceed biking, however I nonetheless really feel that I can convey worth and preserve chasing massive outcomes with the workforce, so I’m completely happy that we’re going into one other yr collectively to do one thing a bit particular.”
Bardet will proceed to compete after leaving the highway behind, opting to change to gravel in a transfer that, his workforce says, ‘allows him to nonetheless discover that aggressive edge whereas having the ability to spend extra time together with his younger household’.
The 2025 UCI Gravel World Championships in Nice, set to be held in October subsequent yr, can be Bardet’s massive purpose after making the transition, he stated.
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“For me, that is the best way I dreamed of ending my profession,” Bardet stated. “I hope to nonetheless chase some massive victories with the workforce in 2025, particularly within the Giro, to attempt to get the lacking stage win there. I additionally really feel that I need to give the workforce one thing again on this race after doing it collectively thrice.
“I will even preserve working with the youthful riders within the workforce and assist them develop in the direction of their GC objectives. The Dauphiné can be my ultimate highway race, as it’s my favorite race on the calendar. It is basically mountainous and near the place I reside. These are the roads I used to coach on rather a lot, so there could not be a greater place to complete my highway profession.
“After that, I’m actually excited to deal with a brand new problem and do gravel racing with the help of the workforce. It can be a sort of transition for me, however I’ll do my greatest in a number of the World Cups and hope to additionally do nicely within the World Championships in Nice in 2025.”
Bardet is ready to go away highway racing behind having racked up 10 wins – and counting – throughout a profession which began again in 2012. He has stage wins at each the Vuelta a España and Tour de France (three on the latter) to his identify, in addition to two podium spots on the Tour again in 2016 and 2017.
Highlights of his 2024 season so far have included fifth on the Tour of the Alps, second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and a high 10 on the Giro d’Italia.
DSM head coach Rudi Kemna referred to as Bardet a “true skilled” and stated that he and the workforce are excited to work with him in 2025 as he strikes from highway to gravel racing.
“It has actually been a pleasure to work with Romain over the previous few seasons. He is a real skilled who at all times offers his all for the game and provides power to these round him,” stated Kemna.
“We’ve seen Romain not solely carry out brilliantly on the bike with us, however he has a ardour for serving to these round him, and with a voice of knowledge and tranquility, he helps to information and mentor the younger up-and-coming GC skills throughout the workforce.
“We’re excited that we are able to proceed working with him in his ultimate yr on the highway and be there to help him as he takes on his new journey in gravel racing.”