"Women often have even less chance to do that kind of thing" - Returning Anna van der Breggen explains trip to Rwanda ahead of next year's World Championship

We’re just a few months away from seeing cycling legend Anna van der Breggen make her comeback to the professional peloton with Team SD Worx - Protime. The former World and Olympic champion recently visited Rwanda, the destination of next year’s World Championships, to look at the course as she bids to win back the rainbow jersey. But now it turns out that there was more to her trip than simply training, as Van der Breggen has revealed she was taking part in a project to encourage more girls into cycling in Rwanada.

“The main reason we were here is because the KNWU has a partnership with the aid organization Right To Play,” Van der Breggen said on Langs de Lijn . “Right To Play is starting a campaign Power to Pedals and we are here to launch the campaign. The goal is to help get children on bikes, especially girls. I think that is especially nice. Women often have even less chance to do that kind of thing.

“It is mainly a project to promote cycling in Rwanda. The girls here are very enthusiastic. I spoke to one girl and she has wanted to be a cyclist since she was five, but you don't see much cycling here, and certainly not for children,” she continued.

“They are super enthusiastic and happy that they can go to such a project. Attention is paid to many things around the project. For example, the children learn English and much more than just cycling, but that is where it starts. The combination, the children also really like that.”

Van der Breggen went on to say, “I was curious about what cycling would be like here. Of course it is different, but they are all enthusiastic. The traffic is very busy, but when they pass you it is very positive. It is nice to experience and see that for once.”

The 4 time Giro d’Italia winner also had time to talk about next year’s World Championship, “We did study it online, but I was very curious. It already seemed like a tough course and it really is. There is not a flat metre here. It’s all steep climbs, both inside and outside the city.

"For the women it's a fifteen kilometre circuit, with roughly four climbs. That's a lot. It's a tough course, but that's just fun. Does it suit me? If you're in shape, yes! If I can get back to my old level, it's a suitable course."