The Canyon-Slam women's team has named Magnus Beckstedt as its new Principal Director Sportif to step up and further the success of the WorldTour team in 2023.

Beckstedt, a former Paris-Roubaix and Tour de France stage winner, has also overseen the careers of his daughters Elinor and Zoe, who are now professional riders with Trek-Segafredo and EF Education-TIBCO-SVB.

"Once my two daughters were out in the world and taking care of themselves, I felt it was time to reintroduce my passion for sports and began actively looking for a job as a sports director," Beckstedt explained.

"[Team director] Ronnie [Lauke] contacted me and we hit it off right away. I saw how the team was run, met the riders and staff, and felt this was the right place for me. I am excited to take on this role. It is an exciting time for women's cycling and I am happy and proud to be a part of it."

Canyon-SRAM won only one race in 2022, the Durango-Durango-Emacmen-Saria in Spain. However, Katia Niewiadoma was consistent in the spring classics, finishing third overall in the women's Tour and third overall in the Tour de France Femme, with a number of honorable mentions. Chloe Dygert had a difficult season, racing only once in Europe and needing surgery on an injured leg at the 2020 World Championships. She then took time off to recover from the Epstein-Barr virus.

The 2023 Canyon-SRAM roster remains largely unchanged, and Beckstedt's aspirations for the upcoming season are straightforward.

"To win more bike races and have fun. But the specifics are still to come. Right now I'm working on planning for next season.

"The team has really strong riders and the way we race is interesting. At the same time, I want to improve some areas and put my stamp on it. Overall, I can start from the best position."

"I think I will bring a calm and direct approach to the race. I want the riders to feel the passion I have and my keen eye for detail in how I approach racing. I want everyone to know that we are a team that backs each other 100%."

Team manager Ronnie Lauke says: "The team has the drive and determination to succeed in 2023, and Magnus will play a big part in that."

"He has gone from being a successful rider to a commentator with a reputation for his knowledge and race analysis, and has now turned his attention to women's cycling for several years.

"Coupled with his empathy and passion for the sport, I am confident that Magnus will be a fresh presence to unlock the potential of the group."