Annemiek van Vleuten, one of best-ever to race in the peloton, has taken on a new challenge in her post-racing career. The former world champion and Tour de France winner has been named as a performance mentor for Fenix-Deceuninck’s women’s team, providing guidance to a roster that includes rising stars like Puck Pieterse and Julie de Wilde, plus stars like Pauliena Rooijakkers who came back strongly in 2024.
The announcement came during a team presentation in Milan, where Fenix-Deceuninck outlined its plans for the future, including the establishment of junior and youth teams for riders under 19 and 17 years old. As part of these developments, Van Vleuten will bring her wealth of experience to help the team accelerate its progress.
Speaking about her new role, Van Vleuten shared her enthusiasm for the opportunity, which will see her working exclusively with Fenix-Deceuninck on a part-time basis. “I’m really excited about this chance,” she said. “It’s also an opportunity for me to explore how I can bring the most value as a coach. I want to find out how I can help talents take the next step in their careers. I knew I wanted to become a coach, and now I can develop myself in that role.”
Yara Kastelijn, a Tour de France stage winner in 2023, was quick to express her hopes for working with Van Vleuten. The 27-year-old rider sees the psychological aspects of Van Vleuten’s guidance as particularly valuable. “I think she can help us take the final step when it comes to believing in ourselves,” Kastelijn explained. “I don’t always have that belief, and I know she hasn’t always had it either. It’s something she developed later in her career. That experience makes me think I can learn a lot from her.”
