New recruits for Team Jumbo-Visma Women
At least three new riders will join Team Jumbo-Visma Women next year. The riders have been carefully selected for their experience, specific riding qualities, talent and development potential. The result is a team that is strong across the board.
One of the riders who will join Team Jumbo-Visma Women from 1 January 2024 is Margaux Vigie. The 28-year-old Frenchwoman rode for Lifeplus Wahoo last season.
"I started cycling at a relatively late age", says Vigie. "I tried a lot of different sports as a child, from classical ballet and basketball to rugby and badminton. Ultimately, I liked inline skating the most and seemed to have a talent for it. I studied physiotherapy in Barcelona and started cycling there at 19, initially in a fixed-gear team. In 2016, I started racing. It went well. I was winning regularly, which motivated me to train more and more. In my final year, 2020, I had my most successful year. I was noticed by cycling teams, and they asked me if I wanted to try racing on the road."
"I want to be very strong in the spring races"
Vigie embraced the adventure. She moved to Italy and concentrated on road cycling. "I still had to learn everything, but cycling was all I wanted. My road cycling improved, and I have come to feel at home in the peloton." Vigie feels at her best in the spring classics. "I want to be very strong in the spring races, and my dream is to win one of the cobbled classics. I am convinced I will learn a lot with Team Jumbo-Vism
In addition to Vigie, Mijntje Geurts (almost 20) has also signed a contract with Team Jumbo-Visma. Thanks to the annual fat tyre race in her hometown of Luyksgestel, Geurts discovered at a young age that she could ride fast. This was confirmed when, during her high school years, she completed the daily bike ride faster, easier and with more fun than her peers. "When I was 14, I joined a local cycling club. I gained technical experience during the cross-country season and rode my first races as a rookie."
Geurts' talent did not go unnoticed. She soon moved to the Wielervereniging Schijndel to train with other riders. After three seasons, she became part of the professional peloton. In 2022, with Lotto-Soudal, and last year with Lotto Dstny. And from 2024 with Team Jumbo-Visma Women.
"When I made my debut on the WorldTour two years ago, my main goal was to finish races. But I soon discovered I could keep up quite well in climbing races. I suddenly found myself among the strongest riders. This year, I concentrated on a few exciting climbing races. The Amstel Gold Race was a real boost in this respect. I showed what I can do there."
"At Team Jumbo-Visma, I expect to be able to improve a lot"
Geurts is eager to join the riders of Team Jumbo-Visma. "I still have a lot to learn. At Team Jumbo-Visma, I expect to be able to improve a lot. The coaching here is at the highest level in all areas. I hope to show myself as a classification rider someday, and I dream of riding a good Strade Bianche."
Rutger Tijssen, Technical Director of Team Jumbo-Visma Women, is pleased with both riders. "We will have a balanced team in the new year, where we can maximise each rider's strengths. Each of them has her own qualities and should be able to fully develop and show them in the coming years."
After this season, Team Jumbo-Visma will let go of Karlijn Swinkels (UAE), Noemi Ruëgg (Education First), Coryn Labecki (Education First), Teuntje Beekhuis (UnoX) and Kim Cadzow. The contracts of Eva van Agt and Linda Riedmann are extended.