Lonneke Uneken has announced her move to VolkerWessels, following five seasons with SD Worx-Protime. The 24-year-old Dutch rider from Groningen will look for a fresh start after a challenging period with the star-studded SD Worx-Protime squad.
Uneken’s career has seen her rise through the ranks, starting at Hitec Products in 2019 before being picked up by the then Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team, now known as SD Worx-Protime. During her time with the team, she delivered several notable performances, winning stages at the Simac Ladies Tour and Healthy Ageing Tour, as well as securing victories in the Baloise Ladies Tour, EasyToys Bloeizone Fryslân Tour, and Thüringen Rundfahrt.
Reflecting on her time with SD Worx-Protime, Lonneke Uneken acknowledged the difficulties of breaking through in a team filled with top talent. Speaking recently to Dagblad van het Noorden, she said, “After a tough year, I realised how hard it is to stand out in a team with so many strong riders. I would have liked it to happen this year, but physically, I’m where I need to be. I think it’s good for me to take on more of a finisher role again, to be more active as a sprinter, which was my strength before.”
With the departure of European U23 champion and sprint leader Sofie van Rooijen to UAE Team ADQ, Uneken is expected to have more freedom in the sprint department at VolkerWessels. Her new team is keen to give her the space to thrive, especially after losing a key rider like Van Rooijen.
Uneken’s move comes after two challenging seasons with SD Worx-Protime, where consistent top results were harder to come by. However, with her physical form in the right place and a fresh environment awaiting her at VolkerWessels, Uneken seems eager to re-establish herself as a prominent sprinter.
