Maike van der Duin has shared that she has been dealing with significant health issues for the past two years, with the Dutch rider revealing she has been diagnosed with systemic inflammation. The 23-year-old from Assen, who stood on the Olympic podium last summer, explained in a heartfelt Instagram post that the condition has left her feeling far from her best, both on and off the bike.
“A year ago, one of the most beautiful moments so far,” Van der Duin wrote alongside a photo of her Madison silver medal ceremony with Lisa van Belle at the Paris Olympics. “Right now everything is very different. I have struggled a lot with my health. I haven’t felt like myself. In fact, I haven’t felt the same for two years. After many tests, it turns out there is systemic inflammation throughout my body. We are still working hard to find the exact cause. We keep believing.”
A season that began with promise
Van der Duin’s 2025 campaign began brightly, suggesting her track and road form was still holding strong despite the challenges. In February, she and Van Belle became European champions in the Madison, and she also added bronze in the points race at the same championships. On the road, her early-season programme brought several encouraging results: 7th in the opening stage of the Santos Tour Down Under, 6th at Omloop van het Hageland, and 11th at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Further top-20 finishes came with 15th at Nokere Koerse, 17th at the Ixina GP Oetingen p/b Lotto, and 5th as part of her team in the Vuelta España Femenina stage 1 team time trial. She also finished 16th in the points classification at the Tour Down Under.
A season cut short
However, as the year progressed, her results began to reflect the toll her condition was taking. She abandoned both the Vuelta España Femenina and the Tour of Britain Women, her last appearance coming in early June. Since then, she has not lined up for a race, focusing instead on her recovery and working with medical teams to identify the root cause of her inflammation.
While the diagnosis is still not fully defined beyond “systemic inflammation”, Van der Duin remains optimistic. The mix of resilience and patience required in this phase is something she has already shown in her career – from her rise through the track ranks to her ability to compete in both one-day races and stage races at the highest level.
Her absence from the peloton will be felt, particularly in the classics and on the track, where she has built a reputation as a powerful finisher and committed team player. Whether she returns later this season or focuses on a longer recovery, Van der Duin’s post makes clear that her biggest battle right now is off the bike – and one she is determined to win.
