"We're going for victory in orange" - Dutch national coach presents star-filled women selection for Kigali
Cycling
After Vuelta a Espana, all eyes will turn towards World Championships in Kigali at the end of September. The first ever rainbow jersey from Africa will go to the fastest woman in a time trial on September 21. Women's road race is planned six days later, on September 27. As has become a tradition in recent years, the Dutch women will bring several favourites, all with ambition to win. National coach Laurens ten Dam wasted no time and already announced a selection more than a month in advance.
With so many talents to choose from, some will always end up disappointed. "Of course it was difficult. The level of the Dutch riders is high; we could have fielded several teams. This means you also have to disappoint riders. This 180-kilometer course with 3,000 meters of elevation gain has to suit you. You think about it a lot, and that's how you make the decisions."
The main stars are Demi Vollering, a two-time world champion Anna van der Breggen, and a three-time world champion Marianne Vos. It would be however unwise to understimate the mountain bike star Puck Pieterse who could find this classic-like course to her liking.
The team will be comepleted by Yara Kastelijn and Pauliena Rooijakkers. Riejanne Markus will be ready to step in as substitute for both road race and the time trial.
"We're going for gold. However, winning is never a given; just look at the different nationalities that have won the classics and the Tour. Our goal is clear: we're going for victory in orange. The race situation will determine who ultimately comes out on top. I expect the women to be ready to go to the start line, fighting for each other in orange."
In the past, the biggest issue of the star-filled Dutch women's team seemed to be an apparent lack of cohesion between the biggest names of world's cycling. However Ten Dam is confident he has solved most of the issues.
"I've carefully considered all possible tactics and the corresponding team roles. This has been discussed with the riders, and they have said 'yes' to their specific roles. Up until now, our time together as a team has been limited, of course, but soon in Kigali, we'll spend a considerable amount of time together, especially with the women who will also be riding the time trial. There will be plenty of time to train together, chat, and of course, laugh!"
Dutch women selection for the World Championships in Kigali:
- Shirin van Anrooij
- Yara Kastelijn
- Pauliena Rooijakkers
- Marianne Vos
- Puck Pieterse
- Demi Vollering (also time trial)
- Anna van der Breggen (also time trial)
- Riejanne Markus (reserve for both races)
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment