Mischa Bredewold became Dutch time trial champion for the first time on Tuesday. The Amersfoort native defeated defending champion Riejanne Markus, among others, in Surhuisterveen, Friesland.
The 25-year-old Bredewold clocked a time of 40 minutes and 23 seconds on the flat course in Friesland. That made her nine seconds faster than number two Markus. Number three Lieke Nooijen finished third, 34 seconds behind Bredewold.
Ellen van Dijk has been Dutch time trial champion five times, but she could not add a sixth title. The 38-year-old rider finished fifth, 48 seconds behind Bredewold. She rode her first race after a shoulder fracture, which she sustained at the end of last month in the Ronde van Lekkerkerk. Ymkje Clevering, Olympic rowing champion, finished a commendable sixth.
It is only the second time that Bredewold has won a time trial. Last year, she celebrated a scoop with the win in a time trial at a stage race in Thuringia, Germany. She is mainly known as a hill specialist. Earlier this year, she won the Amstel Gold Race and two stages in the Tour of the Basque Country.
Demi Vollering was not present at the Dutch Time Trial Championships. The South Hollander announced before the start that the race came too early after a difficult period. Earlier this month, she rode the Tour of Switzerland, after which she said she was “completely empty.” She is focusing on the Tour de France, which starts on July 26.
The Dutch Time Trial Championships were originally to be held in Laren, Gelderland, but that was canceled because there were no police officers available due to the NATO summit. The riders rode two laps on a closed course.