Dutch sprinter Charlotte Kool (NXTG Racing) said she is looking forward to new challenges and learning opportunities as she steps up from Team DSM to the Women's World Tour.

Kuhl, who took stage wins at the GP International Didsberg and Baloise Ladies Tour this year, recognizes that her leadership opportunities may be reduced at DSM, but is open to the chance to improve as a rider.

"There are a lot of good riders on this team, and we have one of the best sprinters in Lorena [Wiebes]. [My personal goal is to grow as an athlete and get stronger. I want to achieve good results in the hard classics and I still need to work hard for that."

Kuhl's main focus for the winter will be to improve her endurance in preparation for the long, hard stages and races on the Women's World Tour calendar.

"I'll be more specific once the races are set, but for now it's about long rides and having a big motor."

Despite winning a contract with the Women's World Tour, 2021 has been a season of ups and downs.

"I got covid in April and really struggled," she said. I was out of races and competition for three months; training an hour a day was really tough."

"I had a lot of problems with my training,"

"I had a lot of problems with my training. [But he received a lot of support from his trainer and eventually came back even stronger. So the last few months of the season were really good.

While her victory at the Valoise Tour and subsequent strong end of the season may have etched Cool's name in the minds of many cycling fans, Team DSM had its eye on the sprinter even before she returned to racing in July.

"We were in touch with DSM really early on," said Kool. They were interested in me throughout the Covid period." So I actually decided to go with this team even before I started cycling again."

"I think trust is really important and they told me they trusted me. In the end, more teams came to me, but I'm still really happy to have made this decision."

Coole's racing debut with Team DSM has yet to be confirmed, but like many riders, she started the season with the spring classics, with the goal of returning to Paris-Roubaix.

"I competed in Paris-Roubaix last year and didn't have much luck. The race is just spectacular, everything is spectacular."