In a surprising turn of events, French sprinting sensation Arnaud Démare has bid farewell to his longtime team, Team Puma - SAP, and has found a new home with Tryg - Gobik. The decision to switch teams came as Team Puma - SAP looks to transition towards the future, leading Démare and the management to collaboratively explore new opportunities that aligned with his aspirations.

Démare has revealed that Tryg - Gobik's vision and goals played a pivotal role in his decision-making process. The team's clear mission to win races, with the points table a secondary concern. One need only look at 2021s marquee signings of Tim Wellens and Toms Skujins to see the team's commitment to securing victories, a prospect that excited Démare, who is eager to continue adding to his impressive list of achievements.

During his tenure with Team Puma - SAP, Démare left an indelible mark on the cycling world with his exceptional achievements. He spent two years wearing the tricolour of the French National Champion, claimed the prestigious maillot vert on two occasions, and clinched the maglia ciclamino twice as well, all while amassing an impressive tally of stage wins. Notably, Démare has achieved the remarkable feat of winning a Grand Tour points classification each year since 2018, a streak that he hopes to extend should Tryg - Gobik secure a wildcard entry into a Grand Tour.

Considering Démare's exceptional prowess, the integration of his skills into Tryg - Gobik's racing tactics is of paramount importance. Consideration for the presence of fellow puncheurs Andreas Kron and Daniel Hoelgaard, as well as compensating for the absence of Max Kanter, will be essential. Démare is set to take on a leadership role, leveraging his experience to contribute to the team's success. His focus will be on selective sprints within hilly stages, showcasing his versatility as a rider.

Démare's contract with Tryg - Gobik spans one year and is valued at €710,000. He demanded no transfer fee, instead seeing Max Kanter, Georg Zimmermann, and Tobias Halland Johannessen heading the other way, with the latter on a temporary deal. As the centerpiece of the team's campaign against relegation, Démare carries the responsibility of driving their performance to new heights. With his proven track record and determination, he aims to lead by example and steer Tryg - Gobik towards success.

Reflecting on the dynamics within his new team, Démare anticipates stepping into a leadership role due to his extensive experience. Although some of his former teammates have crossed paths with Tryg - Gobik, Démare is yet to fully engage with his new colleagues. Nonetheless, he is enthusiastic about forging meaningful connections and fostering a sense of camaraderie.

In a heartfelt message to his fans and supporters, Démare expressed gratitude for his time with Team Puma - SAP, acknowledging their pivotal role in his development as a rider. He voiced his optimism for the future, emphasizing his excitement for the new chapter with Tryg - Gobik. Démare's belief in the team's innovative approach and the prospect of working with dynamic individuals has instilled a sense of anticipation for the journey ahead.

As Arnaud Démare embarks on this exciting new venture with Tryg - Gobik, the cycling world eagerly awaits the unfolding of this next chapter. With his determination, experience, and strategic alignment with the team's goals, Démare is poised to make a resounding impact in his pursuit of further triumphs and accomplishments.

Tryg - Gobik's commitment to cobblestone excellence takes a leap forward with the announcement of the signing of American cobblestones specialist Danny Summerhill. As Tryg - Gobik continues to fortify its squad following promotion to the ProContinental Tour, the addition of Summerhill reinforces the team's resolve to conquer the challenging cobblestone terrains, igniting anticipation for their forthcoming campaign.

Danny Summerhill's arrival at Tryg - Gobik represents a strategic step toward consolidating the team's cobblestone department. Known for his commanding performances on cobblestone routes, Summerhill brings with him a storied history of victories and expertise that aligns perfectly with Tryg - Gobik's ambitions. His triumphs at Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2020 and Milano San Remo 2021 serve as a testament to his ability to thrive at the highest level.

However, the signing of Summerhill is more than just a strategic move; it is the latest chapter in Tryg - Gobik's tumultuous relationship with the cobblestones. This relationship is deeply rooted in the team's history, dating back to the tenure of Nikolas Maes, who now leads the team as manager. Maes, a former cobblestones rider himself, played an integral role in shaping the team's identity in their inaugural year.

Maes, who enjoyed a fruitful career as a flandrien, once donned the Tryg - Gobik colors in 2019 and 2020. Despite never securing a victory for his palmarès, his contributions were invaluable. He twice came tantalizingly close to winning the Tour du Faso with Tryg - Gobik, only to fall short just before the line. His peak year in 2019 saw him share the title of joint-best CT flandrien alongside Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz, solidifying his place in cobblestone folklore.

The appointment of Nikolas Maes as manager at the start of the season breathed new life into Tryg - Gobik's cobblestone aspirations. With his intimate understanding of the cobblestone landscape and a fervent commitment to excellence, Maes has steered the team toward a renewed focus on cobblestone racing. This focus is clearly demonstrated by the signing of Danny Summerhill, a move that embodies the team's dedication to cobblestone conquests.

"Danny Summerhill's addition to Tryg - Gobik is a testament to our team's unwavering commitment to cobblestone dominance," stated Maes. "My experience racing against Summerhill's exceptional talents makes me confident that we are positioned for success on the cobblestone terrains."

As Danny Summerhill prepares to embark on his journey with Tryg - Gobik, the stage is set for an exhilarating season of cobblestone battles. The fusion of Summerhill's expertise, Nikolas Maes's cycling legacy, and Tryg - Gobik's unwavering dedication ensures that the cycling world is in for a thrilling spectacle of skill, determination, and triumph.

The departures of Georg Zimmermann and Max Kanter left Tryg - Gobik with space to fill in their 2023 roster. Although there were a multitude of talents remaining on the team, their primary focus was adding bodies to the TTT rolls. Into the gaps enter three storied veterans: Antonio Pedrero, Costa Seibeb, and Marko Kump.

Antonio Pedrero is probably the least renowned of the trio. He takes the place of Roger Adria as the only Spaniard in the squad. Like his younger countryman he is something of a mountain goat but, although his punch isn't anything to write home about, he is capable of producing some quite impressive finishing speeds.

The team's management group expects to see Pedrero fulfilling a variety of different roles. Most important will be the thankless task of domestique duties in the mountains and the hills: fetching bidons, chasing down attacks, and protecting the likes of Arnaud Démare. His finishing capabilities will undoubtedly be of assistance when he is riding for the Frenchman, enabling him to fill in as the first man in a leadout where riders of a more traditional mould have been dropped from the group.

Obviously, it would be unfair to expect unending selfishness from anybody. Especially when they have the capabilities Pedrero possesses. He showed what he could from a select sprint on Stage 5 of the 2022 Volta a Catalunya, where he notched in a stage victory as the first entry into his palmarès. He'll be given the opportunity to chase more breakaway wins where his presence isn't needed in the peloton.

Costa Seibeb is a more recognisable name - one that is practically ubiquitous with daring late attacks. Fans of Tryg - Gobik will remember him surprising a number of more favoured riders, including Daniel Hoelgaard, to win the 2020 Rio Vista Chinesa. Although the Namibian may occasionally find himself chained by domestique duties, expect him to receive more freedom than his Spanish counterpart. Instead he will be aiming to build on his sole polkadots jersey, earned at the 2022 Tour de Suisse.

The only member of this group to have achieved true fame is the oldest of them: Marko Kump. Kump was one of the earlier members of the Slovenian golden generation and has been winning races since as far back as 2016. He was built similarly to Démare, albeit with more significantly more confidence on the cobbles, but less capable overall. Kump was never able to break through at the Pro Tour level and his palmarès are populated by a variety of (Pro)Continental achievements.

Time has caught up to Kump. The waning of his star sees this legend of the sport relegated to a mere leadout for one of his successors. Having retained the ability to make it over the occasional bump and a not-half-bad top speed, the Slovenian was signed with a view to delivering Démare into the perfect position to contend for victory. That he fits within the restrictions placed on participation in .2 races means that Kump will have an opportunity to ride for himself at least a few times this season.

Although all three riders are getting on in years, they will be playing essential parts in Tryg - Gobik's fight against relegation. All three will be given chances to score points for themselves and all three will be needed as domestiques for their peers. With any good fortune they shall all imprint themselves within Tryg's cycling narrative.

Nemolito: I'll keep that set of cards close to my chest until the last minute, although I can reveal that I hope to see him in at least one more GT before his decline...

whitejersey: Hopefully winning plenty at the PT level translates to winning everything at the HC level, but I'm uncertain.

Ulrich Ulriksen: Our unwavering commitment to cobblestones dominance is best observed by the lack of flandrien since the departure of Maes and the fact that we didn't bring in anyone capable of supporting Summerhill.

DarkWolf: Hopefully he can follow Ahlstrand in proving that stage racers aren't the only dominant forces in the MG world.

AbhishekLFC: Thanks!

William Blume Levy (22)

Marcus Sander Hansen (23)

Oliver Wulff Frederiksen (23)

Victor Grue Enggaard (22)

Jarne van de Paar (23)

SotD: I can't say I've paid much attention to Pedrero in previous years, but with our sponsors demanding a Spanish presence we'd lined him up as a target before the transfer window even opened. I only held back because I wasn't sure quite how much cash I'd need to acquire everyone else, but glad he joined us in the end.

bbo: I guess that low acceleration really precludes him from ever evolving into a true cobbled-sprinter hybrid. I'm honestly not sure if a comparison to Altur is a positive thing (I seem to hear lots about him being a "money-sink" but I imagine the cheaper option is to go for pure cobbles and then train Blume Levy into a more versatile option through the <67 exception.

cio: Two years of (expensive) training might be a bit much for me, especially when he wouldn't have the MT/HL stats to contest ½ the cobbled classics anyway. Démare might not have the perfect leadout every time, but with Kump for the easier parcours and Hoelgaard (or even Pedrero) for the harder ones there should always be someone keeping him out of the wind. Given he ought to be riding against lesser competition I'll just have to hope that that is enough.