Jumbo-Visma has announced the signings of 3 young Dutch riders for its 2023 line-up. They are Nienke Veenhoven, Rosita Reijnhout and last year’s Zwift Academy winner Maud Oudeman. With a number of older riders moving to new teams, these transfers will help to bring down the average age of the Jumbo-Visma team.
Nienke Veenhoven joins from CyclingClassNL, an initiative run by the Dutch cycling federation KNWU, NOC*NSF and Jumbo-Visma itself. The initiative aims to provide a pathway for young riders to the top of the sport. At 18 years old, 2023 will be Veenhoven’s first season at the top level of cycling. She won Gent Wevelgem Juniors this season.
“I learned a lot at CyclingClassNL, because of the way of training, but also in terms of nutrition. You grow as a rider when you get the right guidance. I would like to learn how to work towards a race and how to optimally prepare for a race. Riding in the elite is new to me, but I hope to show myself from the front in the sprint or on short climbs.”
Nienke Veenhoven
Fellow new signing Rosita Reijnhout also comes from CyclingClassNL, with Jumbo-Visma keen to promote from its own pathway initiative. Reijnhout finished 25th in the junior road race in Wollongong this year and had a number of impressive finishes at the junior level this season.
“I want to grow physically and mentally. I hope to learn a lot from the riders who have been racing professionally for a few years now. I would like to make my mark on climbing races in the future and the competitions in Belgium also appeal to me. And I would love to start in the Giro one day. That is really a dream.”
Rosita Reijnhout
Finally, Maud Oudeman is a year ahead of her 2 other new riders in that she has spent the 2022 season racing for Canyon SRAM in the Women’s WorldTour already. She earned her spot in the team by winning the Zwift Academy process and now aged 19, will be moving across to Jumbo-Visma. Her best individual finish this year was 26th at Festival Elsy Jacobs.
“I look forward. I agree very well with the motto ‘winning together’. The way in which Team Jumbo-Visma is racing, by working well together and riding as a team, really appeals to me.”
Maude Oudeman
In talking about Jumbo-Visma’s new signings there is a thinly veiled dig at other teams, who may not always develop their own talent and simply buy the best riders. I can have a solid guess at where the ire is directed to, especially this off-season which has seen a transfer for one of the largest wages in women’s cycling.
“We have the philosophy within Team Jumbo-Visma not to buy success, but to cultivate it ourselves. We have the right people, resources and knowledge on board to enable talent to excel. I have high expectations of the new girls, although we will have to be patient. Our foundation is strong enough to also score in the WorldTour races.”
Esra Tromp, women’s team manager
