"Lorena will be the leader" - Dutch ladies don't want to repeat past mistakes and name sole leader for Olympic Games - Lorena Wiebes
Cycling
Three years after Tokyo, the Netherlands will once again bring a star-filled women lineup for Olympic Games, hoping the leadership battle would not repeat. Could you blame them? It's a risk worth taking and many other coaches must be jealous at the possibilities Dutch coach Loes Gunnewijk has.
Gunnewijk announced the selection for the Olympic Games on Wednesday. The four ladies who will represent Netherlands in Paris are Ellen van Dijk, Demi Vollering, Marianne Vos and Lorena Wiebes. But on thing's different from last time around, as the sole leader is announced in advance.
"Lorena will be the leader," the national coach confirmed to NOS. That's right, Netherlands will play the SD Worx - Protime sprinter Lorena Wiebes card. The European champion from two years ago has 11 victories to her name in 2024 and is a logical choice if her teammates can control the race.
According to Gunnewijk, good cooperation between the four selected riders is crucial. "We organized team days for this purpose and carried out personality analyses," she says. Team building was also central during these team days. "We looked at how they can best use each other's qualities and how they can strengthen each other in this. Normally you meet two days before a championship. Through the team days they got to know each other in different ways. That has been innovative and very effective."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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