Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL are known to develop great riders but struggle to keep them. They are trying to reverse this trend and have renewed with
Pavel Bittner who has arguably delivered the most important victories for the team recently.
“Pavel has really impressed us since he joined the team back in 2021. He’s not only strong on the bike, but he also brings a really good atmosphere to the team with his energy," Rudi Kemna said in a
press release. "He’s always open to new ideas and learning, but also to helping those around him, and us too. On the bike we have seen him take steps each season as he has progressed from the Development program to the Men’s program."
"This year he has continued to take those steps and with a really good foundation laid due to his committed and hard work in the Development program, we’re starting to see him take some top results, with the sprints wins in Burgos and the Vuelta incredibly special," he adds. "I think everyone at the team has enjoyed working with Pavel so far, so we’re really excited to continue with him for the next few years and continue to push each other to be better.”
The Czech sprinter is only 21 years old but has already proven himself as a very strong sprinter. Turned pro in late 2022, he has developed last year with the team becoming a rider who can at times lead it in the fast races; and this year has turned into a full-blown leader. His first pro win actually came only this month, but at the Vuelta a Burgos he scored twice being the overwhelmingly strongest sprinter in the race and carried that form into the Vuelta a España where he won stage 5 in a pure bunch sprint ahead of Wout van Aert. The future is bright for the youngster, and DSM want to keep being part of it and the two have agreed on a deal until the end of 2026.
“I believe there is still a lot to learn together with the team. We made a lot of progress since the start of 2021 and now it feels like home here, spending time with everybody," Bittner had to say. "Since my time in the Development program I think I have made really good progress. I had all the good people around me making sure we don’t miss any steps in my development and although sometimes it was taking longer than I maybe had wished for, it was all worth it to trust the process."
"I really like the friendly atmosphere, it’s always fun with my teammates and the staff we have in the team. Personally, I am trying my best to be a supportive guy on and off the bike towards all the members of the team. I believe one day I can maybe be a captain myself but that will take some time and learning from the most experienced guys we have here," he concludes. "I am not sure what the future is going to bring, but I believe if we all try our best, we can never lose. There are a lot of very talented and strong guys in the team, so if we put in the work together, then I think we can achieve whatever we want.”
