Chantal van den Broek-Blaak, the Dutch national champion, wonโt be taking part in this yearโs Tour de France Femmes, even though the race starts in her home city of Rotterdam. The SD Worx rider was surprised to learn that she hadnโt been selected, especially with teammates Lotte Kopecky and Marlen Reusser also missing out. In an interview with WielerFlits, Van den Broek-Blaak said, โI donโt know why I wasnโt chosen, especially since Lotte and Marlen arenโt riding. After winning the national title, I thought I was back at my best. Itโs still hard to talk about. Itโs been a tough time.โ
This unexpected decision is another twist in what has already been a big year for Van den Broek-Blaak. She returned to racing in 2024 after becoming a mother, and in June, she won the Dutch road championship in Arnhem. She called it โthe most beautiful win of my career,โ because her daughter Noa was there to see her cross the finish line, and Van den Broek-Blaak was able to bring her onto the podium.
Although Van den Broek-Blaak has won many important races, including the World Championships, Tour of Flanders, Strade Bianche, and Amstel Gold Race, she explained that her emotions played a big part in her comment. โI said that in the heat of the moment,โ she recalled, โbut itโs still one of the best wins of my career. It was a reward for everything. After my pregnancy, I really had to start from scratch, so it was very emotional. Coming back after pregnancy has become more common recently, but it wasnโt an option before.โ
Van den Broek-Blaak also shared how her view on returning to racing after having a child has changed. โI used to say that if I wanted children, I would stop racing. Then suddenly it was possible to come back after pregnancy. It shows how womenโs cycling has developed. I didnโt put any pressure on myself during my pregnancy. I took things at my own pace, and gradually I got back into it. By the spring, I was fit enough to race, but it wasnโt clicking as it had before. Then I went to Spain for three weeks in April for โPlan B,โ and everything fell into place. Mentally, it did me a lot of good: training in the morning and quality time with my daughter in the afternoon. After that, I won the Dutch Championship.โ
With her contract at SD Worx ending soon, and the Tour starting so close to home, many expected Van den Broek-Blaak to be at the Grand Dรฉpart on Monday. But now, as she thinks about whatโs next, the future is unclear. โI donโt know whatโs next,โ she admitted. โIโm still putting in my hours of training, but without a goal, you canโt keep doing that forever. Right now, the disappointment is still very big, but Iโm sure a new goal will come soon. The womenโs calendar isnโt quite right this year with the loss of the Tour of Scandinavia. Hopefully, I can go to the European Championships, but only if Iโm good enough.โ
Looking ahead to next year, Van den Broek-Blaak is still unsure. โI donโt have an end date in mind yet; I need to feel it out. Itโs clear that Iโm in the later stages of my career, but however it ends, I will close it out beautifully, with this championโs jersey.โ Unlike in 2020, when she prematurely announced her retirement, Van den Broek-Blaak is now keeping her options open. โI should never have done that,โ she said. โWhen that end date came around, I found cycling still too much fun. Thatโs why Iโm leaving it open now. Iโll notice and feel it when the time is right.โ
Even though she wonโt be racing, Van den Broek-Blaak plans to watch some of the Tour de France Femmes. โI canโt avoid it. Almost all my training roads are already closed, and people from my village keep asking if Iโm participating. On Monday, when the Tour goes through Voorne-Putten, Iโm not sure if I can bring myself to go and watch, but Iโll definitely be there on Tuesday. Thereโs a road stage and then a time trial through the streets of Rotterdam.โ
Van den Broek-Blaak expects a large turnout for the event in Rotterdam. โI think the second day will be amazing at the Maasboulevard, and I expect a lot of people will come to watch. Hopefully, it will be the same in other cities and villages. On Wednesday, I scouted the stage to The Hague with Lucinda Brand, and we already said: itโs really alive here. Hopefully, the Tour start will be great for womenโs cycling in the Netherlands,โ she concluded.