Dutch sprinter Sofie van Rooijen will move to UAE Team ADQ for the 2025 season, after securing a two-year contract with the WorldTour team. The 22-year-old rider, currently with VolkerWessels, will make the leap following a breakthrough 2024 season that saw her claim multiple victories, including the U23 European title.
Van Rooijen admitted that the decision to leave VolkerWessels, where she spent the last four years, was not an easy one. “VolkerWessels felt like family. I’ve learned so much during my time here and I’m really grateful for all the opportunities they gave me,” she reflected. However, after some initial nerves about moving on, she’s now excited to take the next step. “The first conversations with UAE Team ADQ gave me a really good feeling, and now I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”
A former promising gymnast, van Rooijen transitioned to cycling after being inspired by her older sister, Anne, who is also a professional rider. She first developed a love for the sport on family bike rides, but quickly began to show her talent within the junior ranks. Her progress in the elite peloton has been notable, with 2024 being her standout season to date.
“I knew that I had made progress during the winter, but I didn’t expect it to be this big,” she said. Among her notable results, van Rooijen won five races, including the Drentse Acht van Westerveld, where she out-sprinted top-level opposition like Chiara Consonni and Rachele Barbieri. “I knew it would be hard to beat them, but after that win, I had more confidence in my ability.”
Her crowning moment came when she sprinted to victory in the U23 European Championship in Hasselt, leading a Dutch 1-2 on the podium. “It was a dream and very special,” she said, recalling the moment she crossed the line with her teammate Scarlett Souren finishing second. “It turned a very good season into an almost perfect one.”
Looking ahead to her time with UAE Team ADQ, van Rooijen will join forces with top riders such as Elisa Longo Borghini and Silvia Persico, and she is particularly keen to improve in the Spring Classics. “I love the Spring Classics, but I still need to develop in that area. I don’t know my exact race programme yet, but I want to learn as much as possible.”
Van Rooijen is also eager to work with a sprint coach for the first time, something she wasn’t aware was an option. “I didn’t even know sprint coaches existed, but now I’ll have someone to analyse my sprints, looking at my position and technique.”
While she’s realistic about the challenge of competing against top sprinters like Lorena Wiebes and Charlotte Kool, van Rooijen is setting her sights on becoming a contender at the highest level. “I’ve been thinking about why we have so many sprinters in the Netherlands, and maybe it’s because it’s so flat here. Of course, I want to beat riders like Wiebes and Kool one day. It’s going to be hard next season, but this move to UAE Team ADQ is the right step for my ambitions.”