All images: Justin Britton
A lot of wins in 2024
The 2024 season has been really prolific for CERATIZIT-WNT. Indeed, the German team saw its riders triumphed 20 times last season, including 6 times in World Tour, which is a record for the team.
One of the main protagonists of this very good year was Marta Lach. At 27 years old, the Polish sprinter had the best season of her career as she raised her arms five times. The main moment of her season happened outside of the European roads, at the Tour of Chongming Island. At the Chinese race, which is part of the World Tour calendar, the native of Osiek in Southern Poland managed to win two of the three stages and added a general classification to her trophy cabinet for the first time. At the Tour of Guangxi, the other main race in China, Marta Lach won the sprint from the peloton, finishing third and joining her teammate Sandra Alonso on the podium.
Among the climbers of CERATIZIT-WNT, one rider confirmed her potential by having the best season of her career. Indeed, Cédrine Kerbaol won five times during the season, including an amazing success at the Tour de France Femmes, where she managed to resist to the come-back of the peloton after isolating herself fourteen kilometres from the finish line. The Breton rider also recorded a very good result on the general classification, finishing sixth, which is very promising for the future of the 23-year-old.
Outside of these two riders, CERATIZIT-WNT also shone at the LOTTO Thüringen Ladies Tour with two stage wins in six days. The Italian Martina Fidanza dominated two bunch sprints on stages 2 and 3 before her teammate Sandra Alonso won the final stage in Schmalkalden. Overall, despite the 20 wins of the team, CERATIZIT-WNT only finished in tenth place in the UCI classification, due to difficulties in performing at the biggest races in the World.
Cédrine Kerbaol was one of the biggest winners for the team in 2024: but in 2025 they will have to rely on other riders
A great upheaval
After the good season of CERATIZIT-WNT in 2024, the German team suffered a lot of departures prior to next season. Indeed, ten out of the fifteen riders that were under contract with the team last season have left, including leaders such as Marta Lach and Cédrine Kerbaol. The French rider’s contract was supposed to hold until the end of 2025 but it was broken during the winter, allowing her to sign with EF Oatly-Cannondale.
These departures forced the management staff of CERATIZIT-WNT to recruit more riders, mainly from the lower divisions of cycling in order to reduce costs. This is a risky bet for Claude Sun’s team, as the majority of these riders have no experience at the highest level of cycling and may not perform as well as the ones who left.
Among these new arrivals, the Italian sprinter Sara Fiorin could have the role of replacing Marta Lach. At only 21 years old, she will discover the World Tour level after two years with the development team of UAE ADQ. In 2024, Fiorin showed her sprinting abilities by raising her arms twice, at the Umag Trophy and at the ZLM Omloop der Kempen. Even if those wins were at the 1.2 level, the Italian also posted a few top fives at the Baloise Ladies Tour, proving her worth among some of the best sprinters in the peloton.
For the mountains, CERATIZIT-WNT were looking for a new leader after the departure of Cédrine Kerbaol. Claude Sun, the general manager, may have found her in Dilyxine Miermont who is arriving from St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93. The French rider revealed herself at the UAE Tour, where she finished in 11th position. Although she never raised her arms at the professional level, she could be one to follow next season, at 24 years old. Alongside her, her compatriot Célia Le Mouel is also joining the German team from St Michel-Mavic-Auber 93. Both 24 years old, this French duo will try to prove their worth at the highest level of cycling.
To complete their 2025 roster, CERATIZIT-WNT mainly turned to youth riders. Among them Kristyna Burlova should be a key piece of the sprint team. She finished second in the first stage at the Tour Down Under last season. Alongside the Czech rider, Daniek Hengeveld is also arriving to help the sprint formation while Sarah Van Dam and Petra Zsanko will be more important on steep slopes. Finally, the Afghan rider Fariba Hashimi will write history by becoming the first rider from her country to compete at the World Tour level.
Ceratizit-WNT will have to rely on a different set of riders to pick up points in 2025
A necessary step-up
With the departures of all the leaders from CERATIZIT-WNT and the arrival of riders who are mainly youth and inexperienced at the highest level of cycling, a step-up by some riders who were already in the team last season will be crucial for the German team if they want to be present next season.
The first of these riders is Mylène de Zoete. At 25 years old, the Dutch rider is a good sprinter and recorded some good results last season, especially during the Grand Tours. Indeed, she scored a top five on Volta Mantovana at the Giro and a seventh place at the Tour de France. However, even if the native of Naaldwijk is consistent in the World Tour, she only raised her arms twice during her career, both times during the Tour of Chongming Island. In 2024, she proved that she loved this race by winning a stage and finishing second in the general classification behind her teammate Marta Lach. With the departure of her Polish partner, De Zoete will have to become the main sprinter of CERATIZIT-WNT in 2025 and she will try to transform the top tens to podiums or, even better, victories.
Another rider that could be one of the rays of sunlight for CERATIZIT-WNT in this transitional season is Sandra Alonso. The 26-year-old had the best season of her career in 2024, raising her arms three times. The Spaniard is a complete rider, capable of winning from breakaways as she did at the Tour of Guangxi, her only triumph at the World Tour level. The Spanish ITT vice-champion also raised her arms during the Internationale LOTTO Thüringen Tour, beating the peloton by two seconds on the line. For 2025, given the lack of experienced riders, Sandra Alonso should try to use her qualities of baroudeur at the biggest races in the world, including the Grand Tours.
To conclude, 2025 could be a very difficult season for CERATIZIT-WNT. With all the departure of riders, the team is completely changed for next season and it could cost Claude Sun’s team throughout the year. Let’s hope for them that the young riders will be able to perform at the World Tour level as quickly as possible and that some revelations could save the season of the German team.
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