VolkerWessels Cycling Team have added Dutch speed skater Evelien Vijn to their squad as a stagiaire for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Vijn has spent the year racing with Belgian club team Révvi-EGS Group-Velopro and joins shortly after taking the first cycling victory of her career at the Klimkoers Vresse. The non-UCI race contained around 1,700 metres of climbing, with Vijn launching her sprint roughly 350 metres from the finish.
The 23-year-old already has an elite endurance background away from cycling. She won European team pursuit gold for the Netherlands in speed skating earlier this year and also finished seventh in the 3,000 metres.
Cycling initially formed part of Vijn’s preparation for the skating season, but her 2026 results have encouraged a more serious move towards road racing. She has also gained UCI experience in events including the Tour de Féminin and several Belgian one-day races.
Familiar support through Eline Jansen
The move reunites Vijn with Eline Jansen, her former speed-skating teammate and a close friend with whom she still trains.
Jansen followed a similar path from skating into professional cycling and has since developed into one of VolkerWessels’ leading riders. That connection should help Vijn adapt to the technical and tactical demands of racing inside a professional peloton.
VolkerWessels stepped up to Women’s ProTeam level for 2026 and have continued to provide opportunities for riders developing outside the conventional cycling pathway. Vijn now has the remainder of the season to show whether the endurance qualities built on the ice can translate consistently to professional road racing.
The stagiaire spell does not guarantee a contract for 2027, but it gives both rider and team an opportunity to assess the fit before making a longer-term decision. The team is known for developing talent into WorldTour stars and will hope they have found another gem.
