Ellen van Dijk will end her impressive cycling career after this season. The 38-year-old rider from Lidl-Trek announced this on Tuesday in the TV program De Avondetappe.
“I’ve thought about it for a very long time. I found it a very difficult decision,” Van Dijk said. “Last year I had thought about signing for one more year (with Lidl-Trek, ed.) and then stopping.”
“But in the spring things were still going well and I was still having so much fun. I kept doubting. I think cycling is beautiful, I think training is wonderful, I think life for the sport is beautiful. I think time trialing is the most beautiful thing there is, but cycling is not just time trialing.”
“It’s riding in the peloton, and I don’t like that anymore. I feel that I’m no longer in my place there. I have also fallen very hard a number of times now, I don’t want that anymore.”
Van Dijk has been world champion seven times in her career. The first time was in 2008 on the track. After that she became world champion on the road in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2017 in the team time trial. Individually, she won the world title in the time trial in 2013 and 2021.