I don't know if there has ever been such a dominant sprinter as Wiebes. They can clearly improve in the classics. Certainly if Kopecky reaches her normal level with a classics preparation even though she still won Flandres last year.
It's not a call but a necessity. They let go of 3 of the world's 5 best GC riders, so they wouldn't be able to win a stage race, where there're mountains. None of them. This was Danny Stam's strategic mistake, there is no other reason. AVDB's return and Lotte's ambitions were more important than keeping Vollering. It could have gone better for SDWorx, but it didn't. Reusser and Demi made fools of them in the mountains in their controversal season. SDworx was practically not in the GC at the Giro and the TdFF either.
SDWorx riders cannibalized each other in the one-day races, and it will be even more so in the future. Vas should have been let go, they won't do anything with her. Wiebes wants to win Amstel as a main goal. I guess Lotte, Mischa and Blanka are happy to hear this news etc. It will be intresting.
that strade BS between demi and lotte caused a butterfly effect imploding SD Worx 2 seasons ago, losing their best rider a year later and kinda ruining lotte's season trying to make her a GC rider+injury. IMO it was more sd worx going backwards than competition stepping up (excluding Pauline).
SD Worx-Protime temporarily shelve its classification ambitions: "Back to the roots"
SD Worx-Protime will focus primarily on the classics and daily success in 2026. Ranking in the standings will no longer be the main goal in the coming years. This was what team manager Danny Stam told us during the presentation of the Dutch team.
"We've gone back to our old roots a bit," says Stam, who is entering a transitional period as a GC team for SD Worx-Protime. "You could say that. We've signed Nienke Vinke, who we hope can form a good tandem with Anna (van der Breggen, ed.). We've also brought in Valentina Cavallar for the high mountains. Nienke and Valentina will need some time to develop. We hope Anna can guide them in that."
Development in women's cycling
In the past, SD Worx-Protime was able to combine classification racing with success in the classics. Now they have to take a step back in one of those areas. Is that a difficult conclusion? "I think we've been spoiled in the past. And it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain leadership on all fronts. That's part of the development that's happening in women's cycling. I don't think we'll see so many teams that are the strongest on all fronts in the future."
We're obviously trying to stay on top, but realistically, we're not competing in the major classifications on all fronts. I think our goal is to get back on track and compete. But we also know that's not so easy.
Lotte Kopecky
Last year, SD Worx-Protime tried a classification experiment with Lotte Kopecky. However, it didn't yield the desired results. "We don't look back on it very positively, of course. That's why we abandoned it. I think it's good that we tried it, and that we know again: stick to your last and do what you're good at. We're back on that path now."
The right choice, but does it mean Anna vd Breggen will also not pursue GC in grand tours? I can't imagine she'll go for stage victories only. The only difference would be Lotte, which, as it turned out, was very obviously the wrong route.
Van der Breggen's goals for this year are more or less the same as for 2025. "Last year, it was a bit of a wait-and-see situation and whether I could keep up. That worked out really well."
"I'm noticing that my endurance and intensity are back now. And I know what to expect now, so I'm starting the season very differently than last year. It's just a matter of seeing if I can improve."
"My schedule is pretty much the same as last year, except I'm starting a bit earlier this time, with the UAE Tour. I'm also riding the Ardennes Classics, and there are also the Strade Bianche and the Trofeo Alfredo Binda in between. Those spring classics are my first big goals."
Besides the spring races, the Tour and the World Championships are also marked on Van der Breggen's calendar. "Is winning the Tour a dream? Not so much, but of course you always want to perform well. The Tour de France is also a main goal for the women."
"I also always consider the World Championships a highlight of the season. Riding in a rainbow jersey has been one of the best cycling experiences for me."
I think her goals might be higher, but not winning. Winning for her is more about luck with a good escape / somethings happening with others.
I don't know if she had those expectations or it was the media etc. She showed some promising racing last year, but she probably knew the numbers from Vollering as her trainer. I think the outside world are catching up to get a normal expectation for what she can reach now (with better competition).
Having had a pretty good year back at racing I think she can improve. I think her role will be more in coaching youngsters too.
Yeah the main issue is that she can't relax during the race anymore like back when the womens peloton was less 'good' for lack of better terms. The positioning got a whole lot more prevelant. I think she wanted to challenge Demi, those were the rumors. Maybe not in the first year back. But now it's clear that isn't possible also due to the womens peloton just being a lot better than what it used to be.
Anna will go for the GC, but she won't really have a chance to win, so that's not the main goal of the team. They're counting on Vinke in 2-3 years, just like Cavallar. Modest goals indeed, but they don't want to do the same mistakes as last year.
By the way, I have my doubts about Lotte too. Her shape doesn't look like a few years ago at all. So I think she'll have GC goals, but they don't want to put pressure on her this year. First of all, Lotte should be healthy and strong.
No Lotte already said in interviews she will go back to focus on the classics and stuff like before 2024/2025 season. Anna could be contender in one of the GT's if she's in top shape, depending on who starts where of course.
I know, but as I said I have doubts. Lotte was 2nd on Giro and also on the TdFF without focus, even without altitude camp. Won UAE Tour, Tour of Britain, Romandie etc. If she has legs, she won't stop on the uphills to win only a stage.
Anna was in good shape on the Vuelta, and had no chance against Vollering who's far behind her peak. She was 3 minutes slower on the Nelia than on the Burgos 2023. OK, Giro doesn't matter for a good reason, but the TdFF was the realitiy. For everybody. Maybe a GT podium for her in 2026 too. They know it.
Good call. They have the best sprinter and some of the best classics riders, not every team has to win a GT.
I don't know if there has ever been such a dominant sprinter as Wiebes. They can clearly improve in the classics. Certainly if Kopecky reaches her normal level with a classics preparation even though she still won Flandres last year.
There hasn’t, Wiebes is in a class of her own.
It's not a call but a necessity. They let go of 3 of the world's 5 best GC riders, so they wouldn't be able to win a stage race, where there're mountains. None of them. This was Danny Stam's strategic mistake, there is no other reason. AVDB's return and Lotte's ambitions were more important than keeping Vollering. It could have gone better for SDWorx, but it didn't. Reusser and Demi made fools of them in the mountains in their controversal season. SDworx was practically not in the GC at the Giro and the TdFF either.
SDWorx riders cannibalized each other in the one-day races, and it will be even more so in the future. Vas should have been let go, they won't do anything with her. Wiebes wants to win Amstel as a main goal. I guess Lotte, Mischa and Blanka are happy to hear this news etc. It will be intresting.
Vinke is a great sign.
I love that other teams stepped up and are able to compete and beat SD worx
The years of dominance were really bad even if those were good years for women's cycling in general
that strade BS between demi and lotte caused a butterfly effect imploding SD Worx 2 seasons ago, losing their best rider a year later and kinda ruining lotte's season trying to make her a GC rider+injury. IMO it was more sd worx going backwards than competition stepping up (excluding Pauline).
SD Worx-Protime temporarily shelve its classification ambitions: "Back to the roots"
SD Worx-Protime will focus primarily on the classics and daily success in 2026. Ranking in the standings will no longer be the main goal in the coming years. This was what team manager Danny Stam told us during the presentation of the Dutch team.
"We've gone back to our old roots a bit," says Stam, who is entering a transitional period as a GC team for SD Worx-Protime. "You could say that. We've signed Nienke Vinke, who we hope can form a good tandem with Anna (van der Breggen, ed.). We've also brought in Valentina Cavallar for the high mountains. Nienke and Valentina will need some time to develop. We hope Anna can guide them in that."
Development in women's cycling
In the past, SD Worx-Protime was able to combine classification racing with success in the classics. Now they have to take a step back in one of those areas. Is that a difficult conclusion? "I think we've been spoiled in the past. And it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain leadership on all fronts. That's part of the development that's happening in women's cycling. I don't think we'll see so many teams that are the strongest on all fronts in the future."
We're obviously trying to stay on top, but realistically, we're not competing in the major classifications on all fronts. I think our goal is to get back on track and compete. But we also know that's not so easy.
Lotte Kopecky
Last year, SD Worx-Protime tried a classification experiment with Lotte Kopecky. However, it didn't yield the desired results. "We don't look back on it very positively, of course. That's why we abandoned it. I think it's good that we tried it, and that we know again: stick to your last and do what you're good at. We're back on that path now."
Transfers Team SD Worx - Protime 2026 Incoming:
1 - Valentina Cavallar
2 - Nienke Vinke
Expiring contract
1 - Chantal Blaak-van den Broek
2 - Skylar Schneider
3 - Geerike Schreurs
4 - Laura Stigger
The right choice, but does it mean Anna vd Breggen will also not pursue GC in grand tours? I can't imagine she'll go for stage victories only. The only difference would be Lotte, which, as it turned out, was very obviously the wrong route.
Van der Breggen's goals for this year are more or less the same as for 2025. "Last year, it was a bit of a wait-and-see situation and whether I could keep up. That worked out really well."
"I'm noticing that my endurance and intensity are back now. And I know what to expect now, so I'm starting the season very differently than last year. It's just a matter of seeing if I can improve."
"My schedule is pretty much the same as last year, except I'm starting a bit earlier this time, with the UAE Tour. I'm also riding the Ardennes Classics, and there are also the Strade Bianche and the Trofeo Alfredo Binda in between. Those spring classics are my first big goals."
Besides the spring races, the Tour and the World Championships are also marked on Van der Breggen's calendar. "Is winning the Tour a dream? Not so much, but of course you always want to perform well. The Tour de France is also a main goal for the women."
"I also always consider the World Championships a highlight of the season. Riding in a rainbow jersey has been one of the best cycling experiences for me."
Anna van der Breggen is optimistisch over 2026: "Heb al gevoeld op training dat iedereen weer wat sterker geworden is"
Goals the same, expectations a lot lower I presume.
I think her goals might be higher, but not winning. Winning for her is more about luck with a good escape / somethings happening with others.
I don't know if she had those expectations or it was the media etc. She showed some promising racing last year, but she probably knew the numbers from Vollering as her trainer. I think the outside world are catching up to get a normal expectation for what she can reach now (with better competition).
Having had a pretty good year back at racing I think she can improve. I think her role will be more in coaching youngsters too.
Yeah the main issue is that she can't relax during the race anymore like back when the womens peloton was less 'good' for lack of better terms. The positioning got a whole lot more prevelant. I think she wanted to challenge Demi, those were the rumors. Maybe not in the first year back. But now it's clear that isn't possible also due to the womens peloton just being a lot better than what it used to be.
Same with Nienke Vinke right, she'll want to become a GC type of rider I'd imagine.
Anna will go for the GC, but she won't really have a chance to win, so that's not the main goal of the team. They're counting on Vinke in 2-3 years, just like Cavallar. Modest goals indeed, but they don't want to do the same mistakes as last year.
By the way, I have my doubts about Lotte too. Her shape doesn't look like a few years ago at all. So I think she'll have GC goals, but they don't want to put pressure on her this year. First of all, Lotte should be healthy and strong.
No Lotte already said in interviews she will go back to focus on the classics and stuff like before 2024/2025 season. Anna could be contender in one of the GT's if she's in top shape, depending on who starts where of course.
I know, but as I said I have doubts. Lotte was 2nd on Giro and also on the TdFF without focus, even without altitude camp. Won UAE Tour, Tour of Britain, Romandie etc. If she has legs, she won't stop on the uphills to win only a stage.
Anna was in good shape on the Vuelta, and had no chance against Vollering who's far behind her peak. She was 3 minutes slower on the Nelia than on the Burgos 2023. OK, Giro doesn't matter for a good reason, but the TdFF was the realitiy. For everybody. Maybe a GT podium for her in 2026 too. They know it.
Marta Lach at the SD Worx team presentation said their goal this year is to win 50 races. Last year they won 48.