5
Erwin Janssen
General Team Manager
WE HAD ANOTHER INCREDIBLY STRONG SEASON WITH
THE TEAM LAST YEAR. THIS HAS BEEN MY OPENING
SENTENCE TO THIS SUMMARY FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
Nobody ever tires of winning, this is certainly true for Pierre and
myself. At the start of each new season, I always ask myself
how we can match last season’s results. And that is no simple
task.The staff, with Danny in charge, manage to bring a highly
motivated and perfectly prepared team to the starting line each
year. That too is sport at the highest level and should be given
the recognition it deserves. Continuity in the support activities,
the balance within the team, the contribution of our loyal sponsors
and a long term vision are of crucial importance.
The expertise that we have built up over the years is indispensable
in this respect. In order to maintain this lead, we will expand
the team this year to include a third team leader and several
new staff members. Women’s cycling is becoming increasingly
competitive. Several new and impressive professional teams
have been formed. I am proud of the fact that we started this
trend all those years ago. I can only applaud the increasing level
of professionalism in women’s cycling.
I hope that we will top the rankings again from the first races in
the spring of next year. I particularly look forward to the Strade
Bianche, the Tour of Flanders, the Ardennes Classics and the
Amstel Gold Race on our doorstep. The riders in our team are
capable of winning everywhere. And they are also team players
who will sacrifice personal success for each other. In addition to
our strong focus on the spring, we also want to perform better in
the major races during the year and finish the year as success-
fully as in 2018. Our performance in the World Championship
team time trial and winning the world title with Anna were the
crowning glory of all our hard work.
Awe-inspiring achievements that gave everybody who loves the
sport goose bumps, including myself. That members of the team
have worn the rainbow jersey for four years now is an unprecedented
privilege. And we are well aware of this.
Our primary objective is to defend our position as the best team
in the world and win the most prestigious races of the season.
Having a good atmosphere in the team is very important to
achieving this. And essential for bringing out the best in each
other. We have put together a team that will selflessly support
other team members again in 2019. In addition to a ‘winner's
DNA’, each rider also has a Boels-Dolmans ‘gene’. A gene that
connects, inspires trust, ensures a mutual click and helps us
achieve our objectives. Settling in the new riders is crucial to
this. I have every confidence in our staff’s ability to achieve this
again this year
I am extremely proud of the fact that we will field a great team
once again. I am looking forward to a fantastic year again and
wish the riders and the team every success for the new cycling
season.