This is not the start to the new season Team dsm-firmenich PostNL wanted! Three riders crash at a training camp, one's injuries require a surgery
Cycling
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL had a mediocre year as such, with an iconic Tour de France triumph for Romain Bardet as the only memorable performance. Therefore the ambitions heading into 2025 with a fresh title co-sponsor Picnic are only higher, especially since the team was rather silent on the transfer market with only three minor roster changes. But a crash of three riders (Oscar Onley, Chris Hamilton and Tim Naberman) at a pre-season training camp throws a spanner in early-season plans.
"Unfortunately, Chris fell during training and broke his left collarbone," said dsm-firmenich PostNL doctor Camiel Aldershof on the team’s website. "The fracture requires surgery, which is scheduled for today. It will probably be about four weeks before he can race again, which means his preparation for the Tour Down Under will be affected and there is a chance he will not be able to participate in the race."
"However, such situations are really case-by-case, so we will continue to evaluate Chris during his recovery process, so that he can rehabilitate properly and get back to training and racing. Oscar and Tim also fell, but fortunately they seem to be fine today."
Rudi Kemna, head coach at dsm-firmenich PostNL, is disappointed with the crash. "It is of course very disappointing for Chris to sustain this injury at this time of year. We were almost at the end of a great GC camp in Spain, where Chris showed his qualities as a road captain both on and off the bike. In addition, his level was already high, with a view to the upcoming races in Australia in January."
"Unfortunately, this injury means that Chris’ participation in the Tour Down Under, where he would have played a crucial role in supporting Oscar in the finals of the tougher climbing stages, is uncertain. We will make a decision regarding his participation in the run-up to the race. We hope that Chris’ recovery goes well and we look forward to welcoming him back to training and racing as soon as possible."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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