SHIMANO’s commitment to advancing the sport of cycling and its pursuit of excellence through athletic performance is demonstrated nowhere better than its support of UCI WorldTour pro cycling teams.
This is why Shimano, Alpecin-Deceuninck, and Fenix-Deceuninck are pleased to announce the extension of their already decade-long partnership, which began in 2009, for an additional eight years until the end of 2032.
The partnership, which now spans an impressive 24 years, will enable the teams to push the boundaries of professional cycling. This extension represents more than a materials sponsorship – it is an alliance dedicated to technological advancement and sporting excellence.
Alpecin-Deceuninck and its partner team in the UCI Women’s Tour, Fenix-Deceuninck, will push the limits of Shimano’s cutting-edge products on the road, gravel, cyclocross, and cross-country (XCO) disciplines for the coming seasons.
A Season of Rainbows
Last year was a memorable season for both teams, with four UCI World Championship titles secured, after a phenomenally well-deserved rainbow jersey for Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) in the women’s XCO in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, in August. And one month later, capturing a second world title in the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, taking the under-23 championship in the combined race with the elite women.
While on the gravel paths and cyclocross world cup circuit, it was double rainbow bands for fellow Dutch sensation, Mathieu van der Poel, who secured his first UCI Gravel World championship jersey and the defense of his Cyclocross World Championship title, and now matching the record set by Belgium’s Eric De Vlaeminck in the 1960s and 1970s
Mathieu van der Poel : “Long term partnerships with key brands, who have a significant role in my overall performance, are important to me. Therefore, I am delighted to be able to continue to trust Shimano for the next couple of years. Since I joined the team in 2011, I have never ridden something else. To continue this partnership and be able to use the best set-up across all disciplines, will be a catalyst for future performances.”
"I am constantly switching between three disciplines and to be able to trust Shimano’s equipment constantly in each discipline is not to be an
underestimated advantage. "
Puck Pieterse, 2024 UCI XCO & U23 Road World Champion
Puck Pieterse: “I am happy to take on this ambassador role, on top of the team’s extended partnership with Shimano, and continue riding with the best material, providing accurate and reliable performance, over the next years."
Supporting World-Class Talent
This renewed agreement, which is central to the partnership, now includes the personal support of key cyclists Mathieu and Puck. Both athletes have been pivotal in demonstrating the high-performance capabilities of Shimano’s cycling components, including precision-engineered drivetrains, advanced wheelsets and footwear.
The support to each athlete ranges from eight years for Mathieu and four years for Puck, allowing both riders to continue their development and flourish at the highest levels of their sports.
Yuzo Shimano, Senior Executive Officer, Vice President, Bicycle Marketing Department and Planning Department : “Our partnership with Alpecin-Deceuninck and Fenix-Deceuninck goes beyond traditional sponsorship. We are committed to supporting not just a team but a vision of cycling that combines superior athletic performance with the highest-quality components and innovation.”
Alpecin-Deceuninck/Fenix-Deceuninck Team Management, Christoph and Philip Roodhooft: “We are happy to extend and continue this truly unique story in cycling. Since the foundation of the team in 2009, Shimano has been by our side. Meaning they supported us in our development from a Continental Cyclo-Cross Team to a pioneering multi-disciplinary WorldTeam, in both men’s and women’s cycling.
“Renewing this partnership for another eight years, emphasizes the common values – such as loyalty – we share. Together, we will be aiming for excellence, just as we have been doing over the past years, and this on all terrains.”
The teams will be provided with DURA-ACE Di2 and XTR groupsets, which offer the most advanced shifting and braking performance imaginable. They will also wear S-PHYRE shoes for ultimate performance. Shimano and Alpecin-Deceuninck have collaborated on numerous technological developments throughout their partnership.
This extended partnership signals the importance that Shimano places on the future of professional cycling.
