As the cycling season draws to a close, the Dutch federation Club 48 has revealed the shortlist for one of the country’s most prestigious honours: the Keetie van Oosten-Hage Trophy, awarded annually to the best Dutch female cyclist of the year. Named after the pioneering champion who dominated women’s racing in the 1970s, the award has celebrated nearly five decades of Dutch excellence across road, track, mountain bike and cyclocross.
Since Keetie van Oosten-Hage herself claimed the first three editions, the trophy has been won by legends such as Leontien van Moorsel, Anna van der Breggen, Annemiek van Vleuten and, most famously, Marianne Vos, who holds a record ten victories. Last year, Vos reclaimed the honour after a decade, but this time she faces a new generation of rivals who have reshaped the sport’s landscape both at home and abroad.
The 2025 nominations reflect the strength and diversity of Dutch cycling, spanning five disciplines and showcasing five athletes who have each dominated in their own way: Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse, Demi Vollering, Lorena Wiebes and Hetty van de Wouw.
Fem van Empel (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Already a three-time world champion in cyclocross at just 23, Fem van Empel has once again proven herself a phenomenon in the mud. Her victory at the World Championships in Liévin came after a season marked by balance and maturity – not just raw power. Van Empel outduelled Lucinda Brand in one of the tightest races of the winter to secure her third consecutive rainbow jersey.
After that triumph, she consciously stepped back from the intensity of year-round racing, taking time away from the road to focus on her mental and physical well-being. The decision paid off. Returning fresh for the autumn, she claimed her 50th cyclocross win at the Exact Cross Heerde and added victory at the Nacht van Woerden, reminding everyone that she remains the benchmark in women’s cyclocross. Her form and consistency, even after a break, underline why she remains one of the sport’s defining figures of her generation.
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck)
Few riders in the world can boast a season as complete as Puck Pieterse. Dividing her time across road, mountain bike and cyclocross, the 23-year-old Amersfoort native was a fixture at the front of almost every race she entered. On the road, she enjoyed a breakthrough spring campaign, winning her first major classic at La Flèche Wallonne, finishing second at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and taking third at the Amstel Gold Race.
Her versatility stood out: Pieterse thrived on the steep climbs, handled the roughest conditions with ease, and finished in the top ten of every classic she rode, including Milan–San Remo. Off the road, she retained her Dutch national cyclocross title, finished third at the CX World Championships, and took multiple UCI World Cup victories in mountain biking, including Val di Sole and Leogang. Despite spreading her efforts across three disciplines, Pieterse never appeared fatigued – a testament to her natural ability and adaptability.
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez)
If consistency is the hallmark of greatness, Demi Vollering embodied it once again in 2025. Though she narrowly missed out on reclaiming the Tour de France Femmes title, finishing second to Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, her year was still defined by brilliance. Vollering added the European road race title to her palmarès, claimed prestigious wins at Strade Bianche, La Vuelta Femenina, and the Tour of the Basque Country, and ended the season back atop the UCI world rankings.
What stood out most this year was Vollering’s ability to recover from adversity. After a crash in the Tour threatened her campaign, she fought back to secure a strong podium finish and followed it with a flawless late-season run that underlined her dominance as a stage racer. She continues to balance tactical intelligence with raw power, shaping races through patience and timing as much as through strength. Vollering’s steady rise has seen her become the natural successor to Van der Breggen and Van Vleuten as the face of Dutch road racing.
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Lorena Wiebes’ 2025 campaign was nothing short of historic. Once seen solely as a pure sprinter, she has now evolved into one of the most versatile riders in the world. On the road, she claimed Milan–San Remo, Gent–Wevelgem, two stages and the points jersey at both the Tour de France Femmes and Giro Women. Beyond the road, Wiebes reached new heights, becoming world champion on gravel and securing two track world titles in the scratch and omnium events.
Wiebes’ transformation from a fast finisher into a multidimensional champion reflects the broader development of women’s cycling – she now wins from reduced groups, handles the cobbles, and masters time and endurance in a way that was once thought beyond the realm of sprinters. Her 2025 season established her not just as the fastest woman on two wheels, but as one of the sport’s most complete athletes.
Photo Credit: REUTERS/Agustin MarcarianHetty van de Wouw (Track cycling)
The emergence of Hetty van de Wouw has been one of the stories of the year. The 24-year-old sprinter finally converted her Olympic silver medal from Paris into sustained dominance on the international stage. At the World Championships, she produced a triple crown performance, winning gold in the individual sprint, 500m time trial, and team sprint, adding to her European titles from earlier in the season.
Her explosive power, consistency, and composure under pressure have made her a new standard-bearer for Dutch track sprinting, following in the footsteps of icons like Elis Ligtlee and Harrie Lavreysen. Van de Wouw’s nickname, “Hattrick Hetty,” might have started as a playful tag, but after her unprecedented sweep of titles, it feels entirely fitting.
A celebration of dominance
The 2025 nominees underscore the enduring global impact of Dutch women’s cycling. From Van Empel’s mud-streaked mastery to Pieterse’s all-terrain brilliance, from Vollering’s command of the stage races to Wiebes’ sheer versatility and Van de Wouw’s track supremacy, each has redefined what excellence looks like in her field.
The Keetie van Oosten-Hage Trophy will be awarded at the Wielergala 2025 in Utrecht on 24 November, following a vote by former professionals, current riders, and the public through Wielerflits. Whoever lifts the trophy will join an elite lineage that continues to grow richer with every passing year.
