Charlotte Kool and Picnic PostNL are parting ways immediately. The 26-year-old sprinter will leave the team after three and a half years, the Dutch WorldTeam announced in a press release. She will make a mid-season transfer to Fenix-Deceuninck, sources confidentially told Cyclingflash.com and WielerFlits. The fast rider signs a multi-year contract there.
Kool had attracted interest from many teams. After hearing this, her representatives and both teams reportedly engaged in constructive talks according to Picnic PostNL. Together, they have reached a solution. "I have always been very happy here and there was no reason to leave," says Kool. "However, the interest from my new team offered an attractive challenge that I gladly accepted. I am grateful to my current team for the opportunities I have had to develop both athletically and personally. I look forward to taking on a new challenge with my next team, something made possible by the cooperation of Picnic PostNL."
Sporting director Rudi Kemna wishes his sprinter all the best: "Charlotte has really developed with us over the past years, and together we have shared many great memories and successes, for which we are thankful. We understand that she wants to seize this opportunity; she is a rider who truly fits the team, and perhaps we will welcome her back in the future. While we wish Charlotte the best of luck, we look ahead with motivation and ambition for our women’s program. We have a strong group of women and a lot of depth in quality, which we can build on nicely this season and beyond. We look forward to tackling our upcoming races with this momentum."
Kool was allowed to score her first WorldTour win as Wiebes’ lead-out at the end of 2020 in the Simac Ladies Tour – photo: Cor Vos
Tour de France Femmes as the highlight
This marks the end of the successful partnership between the Dutch team and Kool, who was contracted at Iwan Spekenbrink’s formation until the end of 2026. Through cycling club Jan van Arckel, the South Holland native joined NXTG Racing in 2020, after which she transferred to Team DSM in 2022. There she quickly grew into the lead out for Lorena Wiebes, arguably the best sprinter in the world. At the end of 2022, Wiebes then moved to SD Worx.
As a result, Kool was immediately promoted to finisher in 2023. With success, as the Dutch rider won thirteen times that season. Eight of those victories were at WorldTour level, including the overall win at the RideLondon Classique. In 2024, things initially didn’t go smoothly for Kool. However, when we asked her in RIDE Magazine about her big career goal, she was clear: “To claim the yellow jersey at Kijkduin during the first stage of the Tour de France Femmes.”
And so it happened. After months of health struggles, everything fell into place just in time: Kool won the sprint decisively at Kijkduin. The relief was immense, especially when she was again faster than Wiebes the following day donned in yellow. Last year’s Tour was the biggest success so far in Kool’s career. However, this season hasn’t been convincing yet due to an unfortunate surgery during the winter and a heavy crash.
In the final stage of the Baloise Ladies Tour, she crashed very hard. Just a week before the start of the Tour de France Femmes, it became a race against the clock, but the Dutch rider miraculously made the selection for Picnic PostNL. She started in Vannes but finished 119th in Plumelec. The following day she no longer started. With a new adventure ahead, this was her last race in the colors of Picnic PostNL.
Mid-season transfer to Fenix-Deceuninck
Despite having an ongoing contract with her current team, Kool makes a mid-season move to Fenix-Deceuninck. That is the team of multi-talented world mountain bike champion Puck Pieterse and Pauliena Rooijakkers. In total, Kool joins nine fellow Dutch riders on the squad managed by Michel Cornelisse. The Belgian team of the Roodhooft brothers now gains a top sprinter.
A so-called three-party agreement was necessary for the mid-season transfer; otherwise, the UCI does not approve such a move. In a racing year, such a transfer can only take place between August 1 and 15. This transfer is therefore a first in women's cycling, although Wiebes also changed teams twice mid-season during winter despite ongoing contracts. It is currently unknown when Kool will debut for Fenix-Deceuninck.
"In a few years, there will be a great World Championships in Abu Dhabi (2028, editor’s note)," Kool said earlier this year to WielerFlits. "I’m really looking forward to it. That is truly my 'North Star.' What still has to happen to convince Laurens ten Dam that I am the team leader there? Prove over the years that I am the fastest. And when it counts, show up and perform. [...] If you ask who is the fastest sprinter among the women, I really think that’s me. If I’m healthy."
