Team SD Worx-Protime has confirmed it has secured the services of Polish rider Marta Lach, who is set to join the squad for the next three years. At 27, Lach is already ranked within the top 40 of the UCI standings and most recently finished 10th in the road race at the Paris Olympics.
Sports manager Danny Stam expressed his enthusiasm about the signing, noting that Lach is a versatile rider capable of excelling in both stage and one-day races. “With Marta, we have a rider who can do well in both stage races and one-day races,” Stam stated, recognising her all-round capabilities. The team had been searching for a replacement after Christine Majerus’s departure and saw Lach as the ideal fit. Stam highlighted her 2023 season, where she finished sixth in Paris-Roubaix, as a clear indicator of her potential. “In the Flemish classics, we could use some reinforcement. I am convinced Marta can make some progress with us.”
Lach herself described the move to Team SD Worx-Protime as a “dream come true”, explaining how she felt the offer came at the perfect time in her career. “Signing with the best team in the world, who wouldn’t want that?” she said, brimming with excitement. The prospect of riding alongside some of the sport’s biggest names has clearly motivated her. “I am super motivated to ride alongside such strong riders… For me, this is also confirmation that I am taking the right steps. I draw confidence from this.”
Her excitement only grew when Anna van der Breggen reached out to her personally. “When Anna sent me a message, I was super happy. She is a great inspiration for me and a great champion,” Lach said, before adding, “When she sent me, I didn’t know yet that she would come back as a rider, so it makes me even more happy that she would love to have me next to her on the team.”
Known for her grit and determination, Lach cited her 2022 Tour de Romandie stage victory as an example of her resilience. “I had had an unlucky season and lost my bike computer along the way, but I went into my sprint and kept pushing. And so I won a WorldTour race at my last chance of the season,” she reflected. Lach’s refusal to give up has been a defining trait throughout her career.
Looking ahead, Lach is eager to develop further in the time trial discipline, expressing her anticipation of riding the Specialized Shiv TT Disc, which is used by Team SD Worx-Protime. “Thanks to the top equipment and professional support, I hope to make further strides in this discipline.”
However, her ultimate passion lies in the classics. Having come close to victory in both Plouay (2nd in 2023) and Roubaix (6th in 2023), Lach has made it clear that her focus remains on winning one of these iconic races. “The classics are my favourite races… My goal is therefore to win classics in the future. If I have something in my head, I will do everything to make it happen,” she affirmed.
For Lach, joining Team SD Worx-Protime is not only a step forward in her career but a confirmation of her belief that “dreams come true” when hard work meets opportunity.
