INEOS Grenadiers confirm signing of Thymen Arensman - "The best step for me at this point of my career"

Thymen Arensman's move to INEOS Grenadiers was known already for several months, but this morning it was finally announced by the British team, who keep bringing in very highly-regarded climbing talents into the team as they look to build a new set of leaders.

Arensman was touted as one of the most talented riders in the peloton as he rode to a second place at the Tour de l'Avenir on his first year as an under-23 rider, whilst being one of the strong in the cyclocross discipline. It took some years for the Dutchman to be able to consolidate himself at Elite level, but this year he has found the consistency necessary, and just as his results started to come, a departure from Team DSM seemed clear. There were negotiations with both Jumbo-Visma and INEOS Grenadiers at least, but the British team secured the 22-year old for two seasons.

“I decided to join the INEOS Grenadiers because the team really feels like the best step for me at this point of my career," Arensman said in a press release. "It’s really my dream team and when I was younger I was always really impressed by watching the team ride on the front and take races on. To get the opportunity to ride for the same team is a dream come true.

Arensman finished sixth at Tirreno-Adriatico this year, third at the Tour of the Alps and finished twice in second place at hard stages at the Giro d'Italia. He also finished second at the Tour de Pologne following a win at the time-trial. Arensman set out as DSM's leader for the Vuelta a Espana as Romain Bardet took a different approach to the final months of the season, and there he has thrived with a win in the queen stage of the race at Sierra Nevada, and a very consistent performance which earned him a sixth position at the end of the three weeks.

“My ambition is to develop myself more as a rider and human. I feel I can still make steps in the crucial disciplines for riding a GC: time trial and climbing and there is no better place to improve those skills than this team. It would also be great for me to join this team and meet a lot of cycling’s biggest stars. It will be a great learning experience for me," Arensman added. Together with the likes of Leo Hayter, Luke Plapp and Carlos Rodríguez, the Dutch rider comes as another figure who is expected to lead the team in the years to come.

“One of the biggest reasons for me joining this team is a question that my parents asked me: ‘What team did you look up to as a little kid and dreamed about riding for?’ The INEOS Grenadiers is the answer," Arensman admitted. "Together with all the knowledge, resources and people in the team my choice was made and it really feels like the correct step in my career.”