DANISH CONTINGENT ():
   
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME PALMARÈS:

NORDIC STAR (, , ):

TryghedsGruppen have been with us from the start and they have always championed internal development. That aspiration has begun to pay dividends: Max Kanter has gone from strength to strength since his success in 2022 and now we can look to Frederik Rodenberg and Tobias Halland Johannessen — the breakout performers of 2024. Even though Tryg have become less able to provide the financial commitment necessary for the operation of the team, their values remain a key part of our identity.

DÉMARE @ LA VUELTA A ESPAÑA ():

VICTORIES IN THE SPRING CLASSICS ():

VICTORIES IN THE AUTUMN CLASSICS ():

ENI signed on as a title sponsor last year and they haven't come to mess around. As a multinational energy company they are a much larger and much more international operation than the team's previous sponsors. Their demands are simple: win now and win in style.

We have something a bit different for our readers this year. Instead of simply reproducing our interview with Nik, we will be giving a quick overview of

  Arnaud DÉMARE

He is still the team's central superstar but Démare's age is starting to show. After nearly a decade of success, he failed to secure a Grand Tour stage win for the first time since 2015. In fact, he struggled throughout his entire Vuelta campaign and didn't even come close to replicating his success in the Tour Down Under. He was completely absent from Guadeloupe; a reality made all the more shocking by the fact that he narrowly missed out on victory just 12 months prior.

It wasn't all awful though. He effectively repeated his performance in South Africa — securing another points jersey — and had an improved showing in Euskal Bizikleta. He managed to add yet another line to his palmarès by taking a stage win on his way to the points classification in Britain as well. Then, to top it off, he secured the rights to the tricolour for the third time; having previously won it in 2016 and 2020.

Not an unsuccessful year then, but still a step down from the heights he had reached in the ProTour. Furthermore, the first grey hairs have begun to appear on Démare's head. It stands to reason that we can expect even more signs of aging to manifest themselves this season. Fortunately for Tryg - ENI, he accepted a very reasonable reduction. It is possible that he is still being paid slightly more than his skills are actually worth — but what can you expect when your resigning one of the most effective stage hunters in history?

  Tobias HALLAND JOHANNESSEN

To be frank, things never quite clicked for THJ in the ProTour. He rode both Le Tour and Il Giro. Finishing nearly an hour behind Poga�ar in the U25 classification in France was understandable, but losing out to James Fouche in Italia? Unforgivable, especially after he was given free reign. There was promise though and so Nik kept faith in the young Norwegian.

Faith that was well-rewarded, at least as far as U25 jerseys are concerned! Nobody was able to touch him at the ProConti level: six attempts were met with five successes. Yes, the one failure was at his home race. No, he couldn't repeat this feat in his sole 2.Pro race — Portugal. Still: five Youth classifications, four stage wins, four Top 10s (including one podium) overall, and — to top it all off — he too will be wearing his national colours next season.

THJ will start the '25 season with plenty of entries in his palmàres, but there are any number of Youth classification winners who have failed to go on to replicate that success against the full peloton. To a significant extent, his potential remains just that: potential. That might well explain why we haven't seen any movement in his wage.

  Michal SCHLEGEL

It has been a slow adjustment to life at the ProContinental level for Schlegel. He only cracked the Top 10 once in '23, despite being assigned leadership in every race he rode. This meant that there was some doubt coming in to '24 — he'd been demoted to a secondary leader with the return of THJ. Still, there didn't appear to be much interest in him moving elsewhere with nary a rumour reaching our ears.

The good news is that things did pick up slightly. He doubled the number of Top 10s by adding Pologne to a repeat performance in Hallstatt. A second wildcard entry into La Vuelta saw him finishing 18th overall — several attempts at taking a stage win from the breakaway were unfortunately thwarted.

Schlegel has signed on for another year. It seems that he has settled in to his role as a secondary rider, with reports of a decent reduction in his wage. His position isn't secure quite yet though, with reports that Tryg - ENI have begun inviting expressions of interest in the Czech grimpeur.

  Alexandr OVSYANNIKOV

It is tough being a flandrien. The calendar provides limited opportunities to hit the cobbles and when they do arrive it is often one moment, one mistake, that is determinate. Ovysannikov was the big signing of Tryg - ENI's last off-season; perhaps all that pressure got to him. On multiple occasions he made costly mistakes and wasn't quite able to deliver in the races the team had targeted for him.

That isn't to say he was completely without success. Our personal highly was when he finally took his first step on to the podium. It was Japan. The final day of his final race for 2024. At the last gasp he ensured that he wasn't going to be leaving the year empty-handed. Even if he hadn't secured that result, I can't imagine that Maes was too disappointed when Ovsyannikov secured 5th in Milano San Remo — even if the squad was supposed to be riding for Démare.

Our understanding is that Ovsyannikov has been identified as a key part of the new direction that Tryg - ENI is looking to take. The staff believe in his potential, believe that he has the capability to score a number of victories in the Spring Classics. No surprise then that he has agreed to a new deal; although perhaps he might have accepted a greater wage reduction if his coaches weren't so busy tooting his horn.

  Costa SEIBEB
  Fabio SILVESTRE

Aside from the quartet who joined us on loan, there were only two riders who left us over the renewals period. The loss of Silvestre is entirely expected. Just like Marko Kump the year prior, he only joined us at the tail-end of his career. He could still offer something as part of a leadout train but his more significant value would be as a road captain.

Seibeb had a more significant career with us. Still only two years — but in that time he also managed to snag stage wins in Romandie and Andorra, as well as dominating the Namibian national championships. Tryg - ENI would still be happy to have him on the squad but felt that they would be able to negotiate a more favourable contract through free agency.

  National Focus

The team's relationship with TryghedsGruppen has meant that the development of Danish cycling has always been at the forefront of its identity. Their programme has seen much success throughout the years: Mathias NORSGAARD, Frederik RODENBERG and Tobias HALLAND JOHANNESSEN. Now though, there doesn't seem to be as much of a need to provide pathways for young Danes. There are innumerable professional teams throughout the Scandinavian region.

Instead ENI SpA has come to bear a greater weight on the future of the squad. The arrival of Ovsyannikov was the first step towards their vision. Yes — having some Italian representation will be important. No — that isn't their key requirement. Instead, they want the team to focus on the sprints and the classics. That means expanding the squad's capacity in both the present and far into the future.