WOMEN’S RACING
omen’s professional cycling
has always tended to be in
the shadow. But it shouldn’t
be. The racing, while over
shorter distances, is every bit as
intense. The scurry for places in the
increasing number of top-flight teams
is as competitive as ever. Stage races
such as the OVO Energy Women’s Tour
are increasing race length and prize
money. Plus the riders themselves are
incredibly professional and focussed.
And increasingly versatile. Like Dutch
superstar Anna van der Breggen.
At first glance, Anna’s palmarès
over the past year look a little thin on
the ground. Having won pretty much
everything there is to win over the past
few years, including World, European
and Olympic titles, the 2018 season
saw the current World Champion
absent from several startlists. Sure,
closer inspection reveals exceptional
quality results over her actual days
raced. But the fact is that Anna needed
fresh motivation and decided to
rejuvenate herself by spreading her
wings off-road.
“I’ve been a pro cyclist since I finished
high school,” explains the affable Dutch
rider. “I just grew into it, really. But that’s
pretty normal in the Netherlands. It is
true that I’ve done a lot of road races
over my career so I decided to pursue
other cycling goals from last year.”
Anna’s dabbling in mountain biking
W
ANNA VAN DER BREGGEN
REFRESHED &
MOTIVATED
On the Women’s WorldTour Dutch
rider Anna van der Breggen is
undoubtedly a superstar. Fresh
from a win at the Amgen Tour of
California, and with her sights set
on another Giro Rosa title, the
2018 World Champion explains
why a little bit of diversity has
rejuvenated her motivation for
continued glory.
is not uncommon for road racing
professionals. While compatriot
Mathieu van der Poel has been
dominating headlines for this very
reason, the women’s pro peloton is
also seeing an increasing amount of
crossover between the disciplines. And
in both directions. Anna’s Cape Epic
teammate (and off-road superstar)
Annika Langvad has already podiumed
at Strade Bianche and La Flèche
Wallonne Féminine this year, while
28 | TO U R
D E F R A NC E 2019
Jolanda Neff is another mountain biker
making waves on tar with the newly-
formed Trek-Segafredo women’s
squad. And while Van der Breggen’s
appearance at the Val di Sole leg of
the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup last
year meant skipping the Giro Rosa, the
29-year-old native of Zwolle emphasises
that her decision to dabble was made in
conjunction with her trade team.
“Not many teams would be as
flexible as Boels-Dolmans,” she says.
BY JASON BAILEY