Kirsten Wild auctions World Champion jersey to help Amy Pieters' recovery

Kirsten Wild rode alongside Amy Pieter for many years. She was heartbroken when she learned of Pieter's accident. As a way to raise funds for Pieter's rehabilitation, the Dutchwoman has decided to auction off an autographed rainbow jersey.

A long-term cooperative relationship existed between Wild and Pieter before her accident." As primates, you have a very special bond. You are condemned to each other, whether you want to or not,” Wild told Sporza.

She continues, "You share joys and sorrows with each other and spend a lot of time together in hotel rooms all over the world. Together you experience highs but also lows. Amy and I were lucky enough to get along. We had a big dream together: to become world champions. We managed to do that three years in a row. Something we are very proud of."

Pieter’s accident deeply impacted Wild. "When Amy and I were at the start of the 2021 World Cup pairing race in October, we knew it would be our last race together. I would quit, but that a few months later, everything would be so different, no one could have known."

Now Wild has finally got the chance to help her dear friend. Funds from action will be used towards Pieter’s rehabilitation, "To be able to help Amy further in her rehabilitation process will require a huge amount of support from knowledgeable and kind people, but of course also a lot of money," said Wild.

"By auctioning off the shirt that Amy and I, and all the other 2021 world champions, signed at the podium ceremony - a true collector's item, in other words - we hope to help Amy take another small step forward," she concludes.