Chantal van den Broek-Blaak would like to return among the best: "I don't plan to ride as a team filler. When I race, I want to compete in finals"

Chantal van den Broek-Blaak returned to the peloton in February after her pregnancy. The 34-year-old Dutch was already part of plenty team victories, but she clearly wants to aim for the world top again herself.

Van den Broek-Blaak gave birth to her daughter Noa in May last year and therefore missed the entire 2023 cycling season. "Shortly after Noa's birth I could get very worried about all kinds of things, says Van den Broek-Blaak at De Telegraaf. "These were of course also the hormones that were raging through my body. You think you're going to miss everything, like her first steps. So far I haven't missed anything, although I do know that cycling will be busier from now on. I really feel like racing and I know she is in good hands with my husband Lars."

During her pregnancy she had difficulty with fatigue. "I still cycled, walked and did exercises, but I was immediately no longer a top athlete. Normally I would push on, like: don't complain and let's train, but as soon as I started straining myself I was only concerned with the baby in my belly. From week thirty onwards I was told that the growth curve decreased slightly and that I had better not do anything anymore, because the little one could use all the energy. Of course, when you say that, you do it immediately. I just didn't know you could feel so exhausted," she continues.

In a team of stars such as SD Worx - Protime becoming the leader will certainly not be an easy task. "It's finding out how taxable I am. I don't know where my ceiling is, but I do think I can reach my old level. I had to catch up and I asked myself if I was going to make it. After the birth, I initially lived on a pink cloud and didn't want to miss anything from her."

In addition, the former 2017 world champion's contract with the Dutch formation expires. "I want to enjoy racing and find out whether this dual role suits me. I may find out it isn't, but I plan to give it my all in both roles. Noa comes in first, but I don't plan to ride as a team filler. When I race, I want to compete in finals. And besides, in our team it will have to be done, because everyone has to prove that they are strong enough, and so do I."