“This isn’t my world anymore” – Ellen van Dijk explains looming retirement

Ellen van Dijk, one of the defining riders of her generation, is set to end her professional cycling career at the close of 2025. The 38-year-old Dutchwoman, a three-time world time trial champion and accomplished track rider too, confirmed earlier this summer that she would retire after nearly two decades in the peloton. Known for her power in the classics and her dominance against the clock, Van Dijk admitted the realisation struck her this year that her place in the sport was beginning to shift.

"At the Vuelta, I realized for the first time that I thought: this isn't really my world anymore. (...) That made me realize it's time to say goodbye," she told Wielerflits.

Her most recent appearance on home roads brought mixed emotions. What should have been a celebration of one of her final races in the Netherlands turned into a day of disappointment. "A few girls asked me today: 'Are you enjoying it?' But honestly, I didn't enjoy it much today. It's nice to consciously experience everything again, of course, but today it just didn't go the way we wanted, and I'm really disappointed about that."

Van Dijk’s trademark ability to thrive in crosswinds has long defined her, but she acknowledged that the edge is fading. "I was usually pretty good at riding with the wind, but I'm finding it difficult to really throw myself into it now. And that's definitely necessary. That confirms that it's a good thing I'm retiring," she said with a laugh.

When she renewed her contract last year, she did so with the expectation that 2025 would be her last season. Still, her form in the spring brought second thoughts. "When I signed a one-year contract last year, I did so with the idea that it would be my last. But in the spring, things actually went really well. I focused on Flanders, Roubaix, and the Amstel River, and I competed with the best everywhere. Then you start to have doubts again," Van Dijk admitted.

Even as she prepares to leave racing behind, she acknowledged the void that will follow the structured life of a professional athlete. "I'll especially miss working towards a goal. Giving it my all, living it up with passion and dedication. Training every day, figuring out everything down to the last detail to be in top form. Although, in a few months, I might say it's wonderful that I don't have to do it anymore. I'm curious," she laughed.

Looking ahead, Van Dijk is considering her next steps, eager to explore opportunities beyond competition while still keeping a connection to cycling. "I don't know exactly what role yet, but I do want to try something in coaching. Commentating or something else would also be fun. I want to try different things, because I've been a cyclist for twenty years now. I don't quite know who I am without cycling yet."