“I really feel at home within the team,” says Van Dam, who joined the Dutch squad this season. “Everyone has welcomed me very well, and I’ve already made good progress, which has led to some nice results.”

The Canadian has already finished third in the Giro dell’Appennino Donne and placed seventh in last Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race. “It was a tough race,” she reflects on the Dutch classic. “I felt good and was able to play a role in the finale. Maybe I had hoped for a slightly better result, but I can definitely be satisfied with seventh place.”

The 24-year-old hopes to carry that good feeling into the final Classics. “I’ve had a solid training block. They’re two great races where we line up with a strong team and can potentially play multiple cards. We also have a strong leader in Pauline.”

Van Dam is full of praise for her teammate. “It’s amazing to ride with two absolute champions like Marianne and Pauline. I learn a lot from them and they are great teammates. It really means a lot to give everything for them in the race.”

Ferrand-Prévot, in turn, is also looking ahead to the Ardennes Classics with confidence. “Before my spring campaign started, I completed a training block in Andorra where I was really able to take a step forward. I rode strong races in both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, which gave me confidence. I feel good and I think I’ve been able to prepare optimally. I’m really looking forward to racing Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège.”

After podium finishes in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, the French rider heads to the start with plenty of confidence. “I feel good and together with the team we will do everything we can to achieve the best possible result. These races are tough and often unpredictable, so it’s important to stay sharp as a team and make the right decisions at key moments.”

“We’re lining up with a strong and versatile team, with riders who can play their role at different moments in the race. That gives us multiple options in the Ardennes Classics,” Ferrand-Prévot concludes.