Emils Liepins signs with Team DSM-Firmenich as team seeks leadout for Fabio Jakobsen - "We think that he still has a lot of untapped potential"

With the departure of Sam Welsford, Alberto Dainese and Marius Mayrhofer, Team DSM-Firmenich has found itself in a shaky position when it comes to supporting it's future leader Fabio Jakobsen in the sprints. With that in mind it has signed Latvian champion Emils Liepins from Lidl-Trek, who will serve as a key leadout man.

“I’ve always respected the team as they are a team that are always together with a plan, and I’m someone who likes structure like that. The guys work together like a unit, without one person in isolation doing their own thing," Liepins said in a press release issued by the Dutch team. "I also see this as a good opportunity for me to grow as a rider and to become better and stronger. I’m super happy to be here and looking forward to bringing some nice results with the team whether that’s helping in the sprint group, or if I get my own chances as finisher. I’m already really impressed with how things have gone from my talks and meetings with them so far, so I’m excited to get on the road with the team next season.”

The 31-year old, going into his 14th season as a pro rider, has since 2020 been part of the Lidl-Trek structure. There he has supported the likes of Mads Pedersen, Matteo Moschetti and Edward Theuns in the sprints and classics. The Latvian is a versatile rider who, when given his own chances earlier this season at the Tour Down Under and UAE Tour, took several Top10 results in the sprints. He joins the Dutch team to be a leadout man for Fabio Jakobsen mostly, the team's main bet into the 2024 season.

“Emils has had a good and successful career so far and brings his experience of riding at the highest level to our sprint group. Yet, we think that he still has a lot of untapped potential in both the lead-outs and as a sprint finisher himself," team coach Rudi Kemna argued. "Working with our group of experts and trainers, we hope to get that next bit out of him where he can then play an important part within our lead-out, utilizing his speed and power to deliver our finishers in a great spot. Next to this we will also give him the opportunity to go for results with the team as finisher in some races too.”