"It wasn't the plan to attack" - Mischa Bredewold shocked and emotional after breakthrough European Championships win

Mischa Bredewold was the card the Netherlands used to win the European Championships. A mix of tactics and tremendous rouleur abilities led an unexpected attack to create the winning move.

“It feels like I'm dreaming, I can't believe it. It wasn't the plan to attack on the last lap. I don't know, as a team we were in attacking mode for a while. I saw my moment and I went. I then had to switch and keep giving," Bredewold said in a post-race interview. A combination of having great legs on the day and benefiting from the Netherlands' depth allowed the Team SD Worx rider to race into the biggest win of her career. Her attack came with an already reduced peloton with 9 kilometers to go, one that had no-one follow in the wheel.

“It was also good for Lorena Wiebes and Demi Vollering that I rode ahead, because the others had to chase," she said. Shirin van Anrooij, Riejanne Markus and Vollering covered all attacks from behind and let the gap grow significantly. Entering the Col du VAM she had the victory in her hand, although her own teammates chased to setup a sprint for Lorena Wiebes. But Bredewold still had enough in the tank. "Fuck, I really have to give it my all, because I can really win," she thought.

Off the back of a win at the GP de Plouay, the 23-year old continues her progression in the cycling world. “This means the world to me. The last few years have not always been easy. The fact that I am already standing here is very nice. I have no words for it,” she concluded, having been able to share the podium with Team SD Worx teammates Lorena Wiebes and Lotte Kopecky.