"I can develop myself again" - Why Thymen Arensman decided on transfer to INEOS Grenadiers

As most of Team DSM's rising stars, Thymen Arensman will be leaving the team next season, and will be making an important move to INEOS Grenadiers - who are having their focus transitioning into younger riders, with the Dutchman fitting in perfectly.

In an interview with In de Leiderstrui, Arensman said that "‘I like that I go to a foreign team. That way I automatically step out of my comfort zone a bit more. With that transfer to Ineos Grenadiers, I can develop myself again as a rider, but also as a person. I think I just like that better than with a Dutch team." 

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Arensman has for several years been a great stage-racer in development, but it was only in 2022 that he's shown his true talent. Early in the season sixth place at Tirreno-Adriatico and third at the Tour of the Alps have shown great signs, and in the Giro he almost net a stage win after his leader Romain Bardet - with whom he was working for - abandoned the race.

“It is certainly true that I have learned a lot from Romain this season. It is also thanks to him that I was able to achieve these results in the end,” Arensman continued. His second half of the season saw him as a leader, in which he took a win and finished second at the Tour de Pologne, and flew into a sixth place at the Vuelta a Espana, with a win at the queen stage in Sierra Nevada, a brutally steep and long set of final ascents. He is an evident Grand Tour contender in the making, and 22 years of age he's signed a contract with INEOS Grenadiers who are having several of their leaders leaving or in recovery.

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“I just want to steadily build my career and it felt like the right step to take now," Arensman justified. "I had a very nice time at Team DSM and I have grown nicely there, but now it is time for the next and logical step."

He won't be an absolute leader, but will likely have his space in the Grand Tours. “It’s only good to have that internal competition, that way you can push each other to greater heights. That will help us all with that team because that way we can challenge each other a bit during the season," he concluded.