Annemiek van Vleuten has revealed that she will take on a new role as a performance mentor with Fenix-Deceuninck for the 2024 season. The announcement came via a detailed post on her personal website, where she reflected on her transition from racing and her decision to embrace this new challenge.
“For 2024, I decided not to immediately throw myself into a new goal,” Van Vleuten shared. “I wanted to think about my future role in cycling and also take some distance. I was worried that without a new goal, I would feel empty and aimless. Fortunately, that was not the case.”
Annemiek Van Vleuten admitted she initially put training plans and potential opportunities on hold to enjoy some freedom, but interest from several teams reignited her desire to contribute to the sport. “Well after the spring games, I was approached by a number of teams. I was certainly interested in exchanging ideas on how they thought I could add something to their team. At one of the teams, it was initially a team management function—something that is still too early for me at the moment.”
A conversation with Fenix-Deceuninck’s Philip Roodhooft ultimately led her to accept the role. “The conversation with Philip was very pleasant and open,” Van Vleuten explained. “It quickly became clear to me that he really has a clear vision with this team. Riders are recruited because they see talent in them, and then plans are made to further develop this talent. It’s not a team of riders who are already winners when they join.”
Photo Credit: Tomas Sisk/PhotonewsVan Vleuten highlighted her admiration for the team’s structure and its balanced approach to development and performance. “I saw this team start as a group where some crossers rode a road programme together, but the breakthrough really came in 2023. The structure is so well-organised, and everything within the team is very clear. I think it’s important that women and men in the same team are offered the same facilities.”
Her new part-time role as a performance mentor will involve supporting riders through competitions, reconnaissance, and altitude training. This flexibility will also allow Van Vleuten to continue her other activities, including her work as a mental health and performance behaviour consultant, keynote speaker, and analyst.
“What also attracted me is that this is a great opportunity to develop myself within a cycling team,” Van Vleuten wrote. “Philip presented it as a journey of discovery for both sides. Neither of us has a clear idea yet of exactly how and what I can add to the team, but there is a clear desire to make a meaningful contribution.”
Van Vleuten’s involvement with Fenix-Deceuninck will begin with training camps in Spain in January and February, followed by race reconnaissance and support at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Strade Bianche early in the season.
Reflecting on her future in the role, Van Vleuten concluded, “This role already gives me a lot of energy to think about how I can contribute to the team in this way.”
Main photo: Tomas Sisk/Photonews
