Last year a solid foundation was laid for a successful women’s team. With the recruitment of new riders such as Coryn Labecki, Linda Riedmann and Noemi Rüegg, further work is being done on a team that can perform across the board.

How can they contribute to the ambition of being the best women’s team by 2024?

Small: “Coryn’s arrival provides a boost to our team. She already has a lot of experience and will be the leader in certain races, together with Marianne. They show great mutual respect and want to learn from each other. They have so much class and style that I am sure there will be a good dynamic between them. Together they will take that leadership role in the team well, which is necessary. After all, you don’t win alone. Everyone on the team has to play their part and do the job successfully. The fact that Marianne doesn’t have to play that leadership role alone anymore can be a big mental advantage for her.”

Riedmann and Rüegg are 18 and 20 years old, respectively. What is expected of them?

Small: “To grow step by step and to reach their full potential. Linda has already shown many promising results, despite her young age. If she can gain the necessary racing experience, is coached well and doesn’t get overtrained, she can certainly become one of the best German riders. Noemi has a big engine, as we say, and she races smart. She, therefore, also has the potential to become a strong rider who competes among the big names. Noemi and Linda being coached professionally at such a young age is a huge advantage for their development. They are many steps ahead of their peers who do not have that opportunity. I have also told them that they should make as much of that opportunity as possible.”

Is it already clear what direction you want to take with them?

Small: “We are keeping all options open for them at the moment. Because they are so young, they are not yet climbing specialists or focus on time trials. Everything is still open and that is a huge advantage for us. We’ll discover their specialties along the way. We first want to guide them to become top riders and Team Jumbo-Visma has the framework for that.”

Is that professional framework the main reason why you chose Team Jumbo-Visma?

Small: “Yes, it is. It is crucial. And also because I can identify with the team’s ambitions and how everyone wants to achieve them. We want to grow step by step and get better and better. Manager Esra Tromp has created a solid foundation to build on sustainably. It fits within Team Jumbo-Visma’s vision and values and that suits me. I want to give everything I have to reach such a beautiful goal, together with everyone else; the management, staff and riders. In addition, I am excited to get started with Team Jumbo-Visma because they can boast of so much history and experience. It feels good to be part of that.”