Tryg - ENI have survived a year in the ProContinental Tour. Much of the heavy lifting was done by Arnaud Démare but, where there was no support for Tim Wellens in our failed PCT20 campaign, we had a diverse number of scorers throughout the team. The team's two biggest scorers, Danny Summerhill in addition to Démare, are aging; with the American rapidly fading from relevance. Fortunately, Tobias Halland Johannessen will be making his triumphant return after finishing his development with Team Puma - SAP.


A change in title sponsor brings with it a change in philosophy. Given the team's failure to bring in sufficient Spanish representation, Gobik took the decision to step back their investment in the squad. Taking their place are Eni S.p.A. of Italy; signing on for a three year deal. As they'll be shouldering the majority of the financial burden, a significant shift in focus is expected. Although Denmark remains important to our team's identity, we are aware that the region is flush with opportunities, whereas ENI's target markets in Central Asia and the Middle East are somewhat lacking in that regard.

Establishing a new team from the ground up, rather than merely taking over a pre-existing one, meant signing an entire squad in a single transfer season. Weeks of meticulous scouting meant that many of the incoming cohorts greatest talents had been identified. Tryg was quick to pounce on their targets, quickly bringing future greats such as Jonas Vingegaard, Max Kanter, and Niklas Larsen into the fold. Although the likes of Marc Hirschi and Tadej Pogacar went elsewhere, the majority of Danish and German talents joined the Tryg family.


That wasn't all however; as talented as they may be, the neo-pros weren't ready to lead the team, and instead more regional talent was brought in from free agency. Local stage racer Magnus Cort Nielsen, Norwegian puncheur Daniel Hoelgaard, and Belgian Nikolas Maes formed the core of the team's leadership. Genki Yamamoto and 2019 Chilean RR Champ Wolfgang Burmann also joined to support Cort Nielsen. Together, they formed a squad which saw great success in the hills and cobbles; Cort Nielsen also did well to pick up points in stage races, despite the lacklustre performances of his supporting cast.

Although discussion between management and the sponsors did not see Tryg - Ritter Sports' remit expanded beyond development, the additional investment allowed for the team to push forward with a more successful CT20 campaign. Genki Yamamoto and Wolfgang Burmann were out, and coming in to replace them were Sindre Skjostad Lunke, Alexander Krieger, and Andris Smirnovs. Although the possibility of promotion remained tangible throughout the season, it looked as Thibaut Pinot would secure Project: Africa the final automatic promotion. Instead, in the final month of the season, Alexander Kriger's victory at Course de Solidarnosc and Mathias Norsgaard's shock podium at the Herald Sun Tour were more than enough to leap frog the hapless African team. We were ecstatic at the idea of going to the ProContinental Tour!


There was a significant changing of the guard as the squad was rebuilt for the higher level of competition. Daniel Hoelgaard was the only membership of the leadership team that was retained. Instead we spent millions to bring in legendary puncheur Toms Skujins whilst snagging Tim Wellens from free agency. Although Wellens performed admirably, securing victory in Andorra, Skujins suffered from an exodus of puncheurs from the ProTour. Their combined efforts were not enough to prevent Tryg from crashing back down to the Conti grade.

Relegation might have meant a rebuild, but in some ways it came at the perfect time for our project: Georg Zimmermann and Max Kanter, who had joined us as neo-pros, had finally finished their development. We had managed to retain Hoelgaard and Krieger made a return to the team. The only major signing was Michal Schlegel, who would have to share duties with Zimmermann. Thanks to a fantastic ride by Zimmermann (U25) and Hoelgaard (KOM) in the Tour of America we bounced straight back to the PCT.


Although we had learnt our lesson and intended to stick with our established core, an opportunity arose that couldn't be ignored. Arnaud Démare was available, and all we had to do to secure him was let our Germans go ride for a German team. It would have been madness to say no. Danny Summerhill was brought in from free agency; with the trio of Frederik Rodenberg, Andreas Kron and Mathias Norsgaard - all of whom had signed with us as neo-pros - providing some depth. Together they provided enough impetus to secure our survival, marking the first time since our inaugural season that we would be staying in the same division.

TryghedsGruppen are the primary shareholder of Tryg Forsikring, the largest Danish insurance company. They also own interests in Falck Healthcare and SATS, a Nordic fitness chain. The membership of TryghedsGruppen is formed primarily from policyholders with Tryg Forsikring or alternative Danish insurance broker Alka. The acquisition of RSA Insurance Group means that Codan A/S is now owned by Tryg as well.


The name Tryg is synonymous with the team at this point, with TryghedsGruppen having been with us since the beginning. Their focus has always been on the development and growth of Danish cycling, a goal that management has pursued with quite some rigour. Given there are several routes available for Danes to develop, Tryg is willing to have the development programme expand its focus so long as the team overall retains a Danish flavour.

Eni SpA are an Italian-based multinational energy company. They acknowledge the global challenge that our changing environment presents and have decided to invest in this team as part of their campaign to promote sustainable technology and practices. As well as making up part of the squad's official name, the six-legged dog has also recoloured this year's kit in its beautiful yellow.


The Karachaganak Field in Kazakhstan is of vital strategic importance to Eni SpA's long term plans. Although the multinational is of Italian origin, their prime directive was to bring in some Kazakh representation. Given one of the factors for that preference was the dearth of professional Kazakh cycling teams, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the sponsor's quota allocations have now extended to their home country as well given the exodus of Italian sponsors.

	Provide a pathway to the ProTour for Danish Talents	Success
	Expand the development programme to Central Asia	Incomplete
	Ensure the continuation of Italy's prestigious heritage	Incomplete

Tryg - ENI's development programme has shrunk in recent years, as many of its students have been transformed into graduates. The success of Max Kanter and Mathias Norsgaard can now serve as an inspiration for the next intake of talents. It is the mission of TryghedsGruppen to ensure a pathway for young Danish cyclists from the U23 ranks into fully professional outfits in the ProTour. The arrival of Eni SpA has expanded the mandate to include their focus regions as well.

	Provide Danes with leadership opportunities	Ongoing
	Expand the palmarès of our graduates	Ongoing
	Have Démare complete the GT trio	Ongoing

Having Frederik Rodenberg and Mathias Norsgaard play such important roles in our PCT23 campaign is a testament to our development programme; the sponsors want this success to continue, even if that means letting them follow Max Kanter to the Pro Tour. Arnaud Démare's arrival was a more mercenary approach to victory, but that doesn't mean the French superstar's time here has to be a mere footnote in his history. Although we failed secure the maillot verde last year, the team is extremely eager to have another run at it so that Démare might complete his collection.

	Provide employment to riders from Denmark	Success
	Finance continued development of talents	Completed
	Secure funds to provide further training	Completed

Denmark always has and always be at the core of this team's identity; the same is true of offering development opportunities. The youthfulness of some of our key riders, when combined with the financing made available by surviving at the ProConti level, should make it possible to push them to levels higher than even they might have expected.

¹ Sponsors expect victory in this race.
² Sponsors expect a Top 10 finish in this race.

Amy Sedghi: Hello Nik! When we were here a year ago you didn't give me the slightest inkling of what was to come. Arnaud Démare; what a cyclist, what a man. Given his importance to your survival last season it can't come as a surprise that his future is my first area of inquiry. So, what can you tell me?

Nikolas Maes: Thanks, Amy. Arnaud is indeed a remarkable cyclist and a true professional. His impact on our team last season was significant, and we owe much of our success to his experience and skill. One only needs to watch back through the highlights of the Tour Down Under to see just how capable Arnaud can be.

That said, we also have to recognise that there were also some disappointments last year. It isn't the fault of Arnaud, but we saw the lack of a well-coordinated leadout train hindering his ability to capitalise in several massed sprints. Given we had as much of an inkling that he might arrive as you did, this felt like something of an unavoidable issue of team construction.

The good news is that we have secured Arnaud’s services for another year. Even though he is aging, a fact reflected by a reduction in wages, we are committed to supporting him better in 2024. We've already begun exploring options in the transfer market to bring in riders who can provide the support he needs in sprint finishes, and we're confident that with a stronger team around him, Arnaud can return to his best.

Amy Sedghi: Démare back at his best? I can hardly wait! So that's one of the big signings from yesteryear secured, what of the other? My sources are telling me that Summerhill is still on his sabbatical back in the States.

Nikolas Maes: Your sources are well informed Amy. We were truly blessed to have so many well-renowned names on our squad lists last year, with my own predilections towards the cobblestones making Daniel my personal favourite. Not only was he vital as a road captain for some of the younger lads but he also rewarded our faith in him by securing the GP Kigali. I would have loved to have been able to continue our partnership, but unfortunately the realities of working around a wage cap have prevented it. It was clear from the very beginning of negotiations that we weren't going to be able to make a competitive offer.

Amy Sedghi: That isn't the only loss in your old department though, is it?

Nikolas Maes: Ah, yes, no it is not. I assume you are talking about William? We had thought that his year with us had shown him just how beneficial our development programme could be to his future. Other interested parties indicated to him that the motivations behind last year's bidding war have not yet dissipated. These two positions were not capable of reconciliation during the renewal period. That doesn't mean that William's time with Tryg - ENI is over, we still have faith in his future; it is just taking a little longer than usual to secure it.

Amy Sedghi: I wish you the best in that endeavour. Let's move on to the puncheur situation. The arrival of Démare was in many ways a boon, but it did leave you somewhat overloaded given you already had Hoelgaard, Kron, and Schlegel. What is the story there? Who stays, who goes, who is gone?

Nikolas Maes: The situation didn't seem that bad last year; we pushed Démare towards the flatter parcours and sent Schlegel off into the mountains. Unfortunately, experience has shown us that Démare is best utilised in the hills and the return of THJ means that the high-altitudes are already covered off.

That latter point has ramifications for Hoelgaard as well. Aside from stepping up when we needed him in the Basque Country, his biggest moments came when he was given the freedom necessary for some aggressive riding. We think that THJ will be higher up the list of favourites than Schlegel ever was, so even though he isn't taking over his countryman's roles Hoelgaard will still be forced out of them.

To be frank, there is no way to solve the issue and keep all four riders on the squad. Despite being the eldest, Démare is also the most important of the group. As I've already mentioned, he will be the fulcrum for our coming campaign. Hoelgaard has been a vital part of the team's history, and we will be sad to see such a legend leave, but retaining him would deny him the opportunity to truly cement his legacy.

That leaves Michal Schlegel and Andreas Kron. Schlegel had a positive showing in Pologne and did decently elsewhere. Kron, on the other hand, struggled to find opportunities to display his talents. When he was finally unleashed at the Benelux Tour, and then later in Emelia, his potential shone rather brightly. Either rider could play an important role in the team's future, especially as Démare fades, but only one can claim that position; the other must depart.

Exactly who goes has not yet been decided. We expect to field several offers for each rider over the next few weeks. Exactly what those offers are, the opportunities that they grant to Schlegel and Kron, are what will eventually determine who stays and who goes.

Amy Sedghi: It will be a busy transfer window then?

Nikolas Maes: Very much so. As it stands, I am already several riders short of the minimum registration and that's before factoring in the departures we're already anticipating. In terms of arrivals - don't be too surprised if there is at least one blockbuster signing. We don't currently have a flandrien on the books and there is one particularly exciting name that has been transfer-listed. I am sure you know who I'm talking about. Other than that, I've already mentioned the need to strengthen Arnaud's leadout, but there will also be the regular business of scouting out some new talents to refresh the ranks.

Amy Sedghi: I think that is all I have time for. Thanks for speaking with me Nikolas. I'll be sure to keep abreast with what promises to be a very exciting few weeks for you.

jandal7 wrote:
Always love to read this HQ, one of the prettiest in the MG for sure and love the dedication and thought into documenting and presenting team history and the individual sponsor goals.

cunego59 wrote:
Somewhat shocked to see Blume Levy released

ember wrote:
Agree on what cunego wrote regarding Blume Levy.

cunego59 wrote:
Demare should still be great [and] THJ is a beast.

kandesbunzler26 wrote:
Demare and THJ should give you a good base to build on.

seancoll wrote:
Very interested to see what Demare can do this year.

jandal7 wrote:
With Summerhill already gone and Demare maybe slightly less effective now (though still a super strong proposition and as you say planning can always be optimised) I'm eager to see what you are planning to build on last year.

ember wrote:
I guess it is safe to say we will come knocking for THJ! I mean, after all it is one dot out of four, not zero!?

baseballlover312 wrote: Kind of shocked to see Blume Levy back on the market after our little bidding war last year. [...] We will likely talk and/or run into each other at some point, per usual!

Eden95 wrote: It looks like a pretty successful renewals, [with] THJ looking [like he] could be a great wildcard in ToA.

redordead wrote: A maxed THJ is coming in at seemingly a pretty good point in time. Demare should still be more than good, shifting a few pieces in and out is all that's needed really.

Bjartne and hillis91 wrote: Norwegians! Gimme!