Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women have secured the signature of one of the Netherlands’ most promising young riders, with 22-year-old Daniek Hengeveld agreeing a three-year contract from next season. The deal gives her a clear platform to continue her development while adding depth to a squad already renowned for its structure and clarity of purpose.
Hengeveld has been on an upward curve since her first major win in January at the Santos Tour Down Under, where she claimed her first Women’s WorldTour stage victory.
That result marked her out as more than a prospect and gave her a taste of what she is capable of at the highest level. “That win gave me even more confidence and motivation. This is truly my passion, and I hope to stay in the sport for a very long time,” she said.
Her cycling story began in a very Dutch way, at the Dikke Banden Races on an ordinary bike. What started as a childhood activity in her hometown of Nootdorp quickly grew into something more serious, and now she arrives at one of the most professional set-ups in the peloton.
For Hengeveld, the move is about long-term growth. “Structure is very important to me. I know that’s something I can really grow with. I also like to understand the reasoning behind what I do. The fact that this team has a vision behind every choice and action really appeals to me.”
An all-rounder by nature, Hengeveld is particularly interested in developing her time trialling, but she has already shown she can handle long efforts and hard terrain. “I know I’m good at riding long distances on my own. That’s something I really want to explore and improve,” she explained. With classics, stage races and the chance to learn from some of the biggest names in the sport, her role looks set to be wide-ranging.
Team manager Rutger Tijssen sees the signing as both immediate reinforcement and an investment in the future. “Daniek is tall, strong, rides a solid time trial and can hold her own on longer climbs. We’ve brought her in to support our leaders in the classics, but she’ll also have the chance to prove herself in smaller stage races. Daniek is still young, but she already shows in races that she has that little bit extra. Her development as an all-rounder is going really well. We’re going to help her continue that progress.”
