"Free spirit" Van den Berg finally teams up with Jakobsen at DSM-Firmenich PostNL: "The uncertainty was annoying"

Fabio & Julius. Those who know the background of the two, or even have read the book written by Menno Haanstra, understand that the transition of both gentlemen to DSM-Firmenich PostNL has a sentimental background. At least for the outside world, because at the core, we're dealing with two down-to-earth Dutch guys. That's how Van den Berg sees it himself. IDLProCycling.com had an extensive talk with him at the start of the season!

The sprinter rode his entire professional career for the American EF Education-EasyPost team of Jonathan Vaughters and made the switch this winter to the Dutch DSM-Firmenich PostNL team of Iwan Spekenbrink. A culture shock perhaps, but one that a Dutch guy can get used to quickly.

"In the first conversations, I did mention his name because he really is a rather underrated rider," Jakobsen had previously said about his buddy. "He comes across as a kind of free spirit who is very relaxed, but he really has a strong engine. Plus, he only gets stronger with more racing kilometers under his belt. When a spot opened up after summer, I spoke to Roy Curvers about it and made my case. I was more than ready to vouch for him."

"What Julius missed in terms of structure at EF, he might be getting a bit too much of here. It's not excessively structured, because I have been a perfectionist all my life. Because then you know you can look back to see where something went wrong, but for him, this might be a fresh start. Indeed, being together has brought things full circle, so let’s keep adding chapters to our story. If all goes well, we're not even halfway through our careers," said the team's lead rider.

I heard: we've come full circle now, now that you get to race with Fabio.

(laughs) "We might as well stop now. Just need to snag a stage win in the Tour, and then our career is truly complete."

Hahahaha, you can say that again. Alright, sentimental background aside: what's it like to be able to race together with him?

"It's a great story, sure, but it's never really felt like a big deal or anything. It's just great to be able to cycle, train, and race with a friend. And then it helps that this friend is one of the best sprinters of the moment. That just adds to the fun. The goal is to win this year, and we're fully committed to that."

How did the transfer come about?

"It was a bit drawn out. At first, there was talk of extending my stay with EF Education-EasyPost, and another team had shown some interest, but both options eventually fell through. Then there was quite a bit of waiting and some uncertainty, which was quite annoying. During the Vuelta, I then got in touch with Roy Curvers about a position as the engine in the sprint train, and that's how it ended up happening. So now I'm here."

What exactly does being the "engine" mean?

"It means taking the lead, reeling in the breakaway, and setting up the sprint train. Basically, getting into action early in the race."

Were you surprised it took so long to secure a spot on a team?

"In a way, yes. But then again, there are plenty of talented riders out there without a contract for next year. So, maybe I was actually fortunate. Despite not having standout results, I felt last season was one of my best. I took a significant step forward, even if it seemed like not many took notice. That was a bit disheartening. But now, I’ve got the chance to prove myself here."

Marijn van den Berg told me he was really disappointed to see you leave the team. Not just because you're Dutch, but for the role you played in races.

"I had a really good connection with him. Marijn might not have been the sprinter who wins bunch sprints, so the sprint build-up was a bit more relaxed. In the end, there was no extension, and I seized this opportunity with both hands. The feedback I got from that team was all positive. But ultimately, they made a different choice, going with a lot of young riders. It all turned out a bit strange in the end; I never got a precise reason why I had to leave. That was disappointing."

Do you resent them for that?

"That might be too strong of a word. It's part of cycling; team directors don't always feel the need to explain their decisions. It's more that I find it regrettable, and it's obviously part of the business world. There are ten others waiting for your spot, as it is for 80% of employees. I understand that they made different choices, but the communication could have been better."

Now, thankfully, you're here with your new team on your second training camp. After spending five to six years with an American team, returning to a Dutch squad feels different, doesn’t it?

"In terms of structure, it's a bit tighter. My coach is more hands-on. At EF, I always had a good relationship with Peter Schep, so over time it became looser and more like friends. Here, you start anew, and they're on your case a bit more. I think it's only beneficial, especially since I need to provide more feedback on how I'm feeling. This way, you don't miss anything if things aren't going well."

What will your season look like then?

"I'll start in the Middle East, with the Muscat Classic, Tour of Oman, and UAE Tour. Then I'll ride Paris-Nice, Bredene/De Panne, and then on to the Giro. A lot with Fabio, that's my role."

How is he handling the fact that you'll now be riding together?

"We'll have to see. We haven't trained together much yet, because he's in the sprinter's group and I'm more in the classics group. We've had a few meetings about how we want to approach the sprints, but we'll just have to see."

When would you consider 2024 a success?

"For me, success is about fulfilling my role effectively: leading for long stretches, positioning the team correctly. That’s key for me. Team-wise, I’m aiming for as many wins as possible, ideally in the big tours like the Giro and the Tour. Striking gold in Oman right away would be the cherry on top."

Does DSM-Firmenich PostNL, and Fabio in particular, need a strong start?

"Definitely. Even though we’re talking about a less stellar year, he still racked up a good number of wins. It’s telling that such a year is considered a lesser year. That’s partly because of his high standards, like winning a Tour stage and the European Championship in 2022. In a way, you could take a so-called lesser year as a compliment."