11
AMY PIETERS / NETHERLANDS
LAST SEASON, AMY PIETERS EXPERIENCED HER BEST
YEAR AS A RIDER IN DE BOELS-DOLMANS SQUAD. HER
OVERALL WIN IN THE HEALTHY AGEING TOUR, HER VICTORY
IN THE GP DE PLOUAY AND FIRST PLACE IN THE RONDE
VAN DRENTHE WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT SUCCESSES
IN HER CAREER TO DATE. THE VICTORY IN PLOUAY WAS ALL
THE MORE REMARKABLE BECAUSE SHE DID NOT ACTUALLY
WANT TO COMPETE IN THIS RACE. “I FELT THAT THIS RACE
DID NOT SUIT ME AT ALL AND DANNY HAD TO DO HIS BEST
TO CONVINCE ME THAT I COULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT
ROLE. THE FACT THAT I WON WAS INCREDIBLE.”
After these successes, the extension of Pieters’ contract with
the team for a further two years at the end of 2018 did not come
as a surprise. She will also prepare herself for the Tokyo 2020 track
cycling event during the coming two years. “I feel really at home
within the team. I always look forward to the races. That helps me
achieve good results. We are all focused on the same goal and work
to achieve it as a team. I love the way Danny manages to get all the
"WE ARE ALL FOCUSED
ON THE SAME GOAL
AND WORK TO ACHIEVE
IT AS A TEAM"
girls to work together every year. It is a close-knit team that is willing
to make sacrifices for each other.”
Pieters is a real team player who works hard for her teammates in
addition to riding for her personal success. An attacking riding style
suits her best. “I am grateful for everything that this team has made
possible for me during the past two years. I have progressed in leaps
and bounds, and much faster than I thought possible.”
Pieters combines a career in track cycling with the road racing
season. Like Amalie and Jolien, she competes in the four World Cup
races that start in December. Her track cycling season ends with
the World Championships in Poland. “Track cycling is exactly the
preparation I need for the new season. These races bring my physical
fitness to a higher level, it is more aggressive, faster and you push
yourself into the red more often. That helps me on the road.” As an
all-rounder, Pieters will focus mainly on track cycling and the spring
races in the new season. She does not have specific goals at the
moment. “I want to be at my best for the team when they expect me to
perform and when there are opportunities for personal success or tipping
races in favour of the team. The good atmosphere within the group
certainly contributes to that team effort and is a factor in our success.”