Drive belt (3) provided with a band set (31) and with a number of transverse elements (32), each transverse element (32) being provided with a cut-out (33) for accommodating the band set (31), with a base part (34) in height direction extending below the cut-out (33), with a head part (36) in height direction extending above the cut-out (33) and with a neck part (35) connecting the base part (34) to the head part (36), the cut-out (33) being delimited in part by a saddle surface (42) of the base part (34). The saddle surface (42) is provided with at least one groove (50) between two, higher lying parts (p1; p2; p3) of the saddle surface (42).