Royal DSM, a global science-based company in nutrition, health and sustainable living, has announced a strategic partnership with Team Sunweb. Fresh from winning multiple stages of the Tour de France and dominating the podium of the Giro d’Italia in 2020, the professional road cycling team Sunweb will be known as Team DSM from January 1, 2021.

 

Through this partnership DSM hopes to galvanise wider public action around the importance of the health of people and of the planet, in line with the company’s purpose-led, performance-driven strategy.

 

Building on an existing innovation partnership with DSM that has grown over the past half-decade, Team DSM will continue to ‘Keep Challenging’ by taking their nutrition, equipment and personal care to a whole new level. DSM will support the men’s, women’s and development programmes equally to become the best that they can be.

 

In stepping up this partnership, DSM and Team DSM will also undertake several joint activities, including amongst others: develop and produce the team’s very own race apparel, in cooperation with technology partner Bioracer, to set new standards in protective race wear that utilises peak performance materials; and develop personalised, sustainable sports nutrition for each rider using the latest scientific knowledge, data insights and ingredients, in cooperation with sports nutrition partner Sanas.

 

The team’s new colours were revealed today for the first time at an online launch event hosted in DSM’s Virtual Innovation Centre. Team DSM will proudly maintain the team’s distinctive two-stripe ‘Keep Challenging’ design but this time in DSM’s bright blue, emblazoned on an instantly recognizable standout new black kit.

 

Team DSM also level-up their two- and four-wheel rides with the introduction of Scott bikes and Volvo cars. Sunweb will remain the team’s partner.

 

“This is truly a dream. The involvement of DSM at this scale will definitely help us set new standards with the best nutrition and materials giving us a competitive edge inside and out. We share so much in common with DSM; a passion for innovation and sustainability, high ethical values and much more. The bike is a beautiful symbol of sustainable health and we are very keen to support DSM in ensuring more people recognize there are solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. For a sports team like ours, having the chance to elevate our relevance from sporting excitement to contributing to big global themes is something we are very, very proud of and is definitely an ambition for all of us,” Team Sunweb CEO (as from January 1, 2021, team DSM CEO), Iwan Spekenbrink said in a press release.

 

“This partnership goes beyond an exchange of products and expertise alone. There are considerable challenges ahead for the world in terms of people’s health as a result of poor nutrition and this will only be exacerbated by climate change. It is not too late for scientific solutions so, by becoming synonymous with such a young, successful, principled team, we hope to trigger wider action for more sustainable living and health through nutrition. This partnership will help further our mission to create brighter lives for all through our scientific and innovation power. I am really excited for the road that lays ahead for Team DSM,” DSM co-CEO Geraldine Matchett, said.

 

Safety is at the core of DSM’s entire business and a value already integrated into the team, after pioneering the use of protective material Dyneema, the world’s strongest fibre, into cycling wear to reduce abrasion injuries. The new partnership continues this focus, integrating Dyneema into more apparel and encouraging clothing manufacturers, other teams, and the sport’s governing body to raise the standard of protective clothing. Team DSM riders will enjoy their very own specially crafted performance clothing. Using the very best fabrics and largest technologies, this will define an absolute new standard of race wear, producing the best performance clothing out there. DSM will also make available their extensive expertise in health and safety for riders’ safety meetings and between pro cycling’s stakeholders to create safer race conditions.