After the ladies’s Strade Bianche, it was as if Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) had by no means been away from the peloton. In her Women’s WorldTour comeback after three years away from racing, she stood on the rostrum on the Piazza del Campo in Siena, having completed second behind Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez).
It confirmed that Van der Breggen isn’t solely nonetheless aggressive however stays one of many very best riders on the earth. Some could have anticipated such a efficiency from the previous world and Olympic champion, however for her, it got here as a shock.
“I hoped for it, however I didn’t count on it but, and I suffered quite a bit within the race. I had no concept how lengthy I may sustain, so I’m actually pleased and fairly shocked that I nonetheless had this in the long run,” mentioned Van der Breggen post-race.
Having determined to return to racing for 2025, the 34-year-old Dutchwoman began her comeback on the Setmana Valenciana, the place she completed third total behind Vollering and Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team), each riders she had below her wings as an SD Worx sport director within the final three years.
At the Omloop van het Hageland, Van der Breggen led out teammate Femke Gerritse to win. At Strade Bianche, nevertheless, she stepped again into the position of chief and as much as the most important stage. She could not assist however admit how happy she was along with her type already.
“Of course, we race to win, however we knew it was going to be fairly exhausting to win immediately. I didn’t count on to complete with Demi,” Van der Breggen mentioned.
“I’m actually pleased with how far I’m bodily. I’ve yet another race now, then I’ve a coaching block developing, so it’s good to know what to work on, and it’s additionally motivating for what’s developing.”
Racing towards a former teammate is at all times particular, however the relationship between Vollering and Van der Breggen is much more out of the atypical as Van der Breggen was not solely Vollering’s sport director however her coach, too.
“We know one another rather well. She is such a robust rider, and I do know what she will be able to do, however she is aware of what I can do as properly. At one level, I have to discover a means [to beat her]. But thus far, immediately was very nice to do,” the Dutchwoman mentioned.
Having moved again from the game director’s automobile onto the race bike, the thrill and feelings of racing had been a part of Van der Breggen’s day – however so was the ache and the depth.
“It’s good to really feel this once more. But it was additionally fairly intense, particularly this race, there’s no half the place you may chill out, on this course, how it’s now, it’s a combat from begin to end,” she mentioned.
“I noticed a whole lot of crashes immediately, and you’re feeling that ladies are driving on the restrict. You do the recon, however the race tempo is means increased. It’s a struggle the entire day.”
After the decisive transfer atop the Le Tolfe climb that obtained Vollering and Van der Breggen away from the remainder of the favourites, the 2 riders could possibly be seen speaking to one another, and Vollering did the lion’s share of the work for the following minutes earlier than Van der Breggen joined in – revealing that she had pulled the age card on this brief dialogue.
“She needed me to trip, however I would like a while [to recover] to have the ability to trip. So I mentioned, ‘I’m not the youngest anymore, I would like extra time,’” Van der Breggen smiled.
While Vollering gained on this event, Van der Breggen’s form and sometimes intelligent racing was an indication of issues to return for the remainder of the Classics. Her subsequent race shall be at Trofeo Alfredo Binda subsequent weekend, earlier than she once more meets her former protege, Vollering, on the revived ladies’s Milan-San Remo.
