Last month, you were presented with your champion’s jerseys. What do you think of it?
Daniek: "It’s a really lovely kit. I rode in it for the first time during our altitude training camp in Tignes and it certainly felt good. I’m already looking forward to wearing it in the Tour de France. It won’t be often that I get to ride a time trial in the world’s biggest race in red, white and blue, so that’s bound to be a special moment."

Lieke: "It’s a really lovely design. Fun, playful and not too straightforward. I think it’s absolutely brilliant that I’ll be able to ride around in red, white and blue for a whole year. That certainly gives me extra motivation."

Which memory of the Dutch Championships stands out most for you?
Lieke: "The first thing that springs to mind is the sense of relief when I crossed the finish line and threw my arms round my coach Maarten. It’s the finest victory I’ve achieved so far. Winning a title is what you train for and what gets you out of bed every day. The fact that I’ll now be able to ride in the red, white and blue for a whole year makes me very happy."

Daniek: "I think it’ll only really sink in for me when I get to wear the jersey in the Tour de France Femmes. Of course, winning a title is something very special, but it’s never been a goal of mine. I started cycling because I enjoy it and because I want to have fun. I’ve trained a lot on the time trial bike and that’s paid off."

Lieke, you beat Femke Markus in a two-way sprint. Did the race go exactly to plan? 
Lieke: "Yes, actually it did. In a National Championship, the question is always: which breakaway group will be the decisive one? It’s about reacting to the right riders and seeing which attack pays off. The warm conditions, combined with the gruelling circuit, also made it a tough race. I always perform well in races like that. That was certainly the case in this National Championship."

When did you think: this might just be my day?
Lieke: "During the final lap, I knew that the lead Femke (Markus) and I had was big enough. Femke’s fast, so I had to work out how I could beat her. I started the sprint early and held on right to the finish. I think I played my cards right in the end."

And how did it go for you, Daniek?
Daniek: "I didn’t think about that during the race. I always ride on instinct; I don’t look at the wattages. My coach Rutger Tijssen was riding behind me and said, ‘You’re doing really well!’ I could feel for myself that things were going well and that I was in a good rhythm. When I crossed the finish line, I had to wait and see, because there were still nine riders to come in. It wasn’t until Mischa (Bredewold) had crossed the finish line that I realised I’d won."

The Tour de France Femmes starts in two days. Are you looking forward to it?
Lieke: "I can’t wait to get started; I’m really looking forward to it. The Tour de France is the biggest race of the year where everyone wants to make their mark. Given the route, it’s going to be an incredibly tough and challenging race. Overall, we’ve got a really strong team with lots of qualities. I think we need to make the most of them if we want to compete for the win."

Daniek: "The Tour isn’t just an iconic race for men, but for women too. There’s a sort of golden aura about it. I don’t know why that is. For us, it’s because Pauline won the Tour last year. That makes it an extra special race. At the same time, it also puts more pressure on us."

You were part of the Tour-winning team last year, Lieke. What was that like for you?
Lieke: "Pauline's victory last year was a wonderful reward. Of course, we had hoped for it, but the fact that we actually pulled it off made it incredibly special. It's something we can all be very proud of."

What are your ambitions heading into France this year?
Daniek: "I don't think it's any secret that our main goal is to win the Tour again with Pauline. I have complete confidence that she can do it. On top of that, we'll be aiming for stage victories with Marianne."

Lieke: "Our biggest goal is to win the Tour with Pauline again. We know her well: how she works, what she needs, and what she does and doesn't want. We also have the experience from last year, and that's a big advantage. Last year's victory gives us even more motivation to go all in again this season and make sure we're in the best shape of our lives."

What is it like having Pauline and Marianne as teammates?
Daniek: "On the one hand, it's really special, but it's not like I look up to them. They're my teammates, and Pauline is also one of my best friends. I can learn a lot from both of them, and I do. They've raced so much more than I have. They know every race and have experienced just about everything. At the same time, I think they also learn from me because I bring a different perspective."

Lieke: "Pauline and Marianne have so much experience. They truly live like professional athletes and know exactly how to build towards a peak performance in a very structured way. I really enjoy seeing how they approach that. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for them."

What is your personal goal during the Tour de France Femmes?
Lieke: "I want to do the best possible job for the team. I'll do everything I can to show my strength when it matters most. I know how much Pauline sacrifices and how hard she works. That only motivates me to train even harder myself. The time trial is also one of my goals, but first I need to do my job in the other stages."

Daniek: "I just want to ride as hard as I can every single day for Pauline. That's my main role. I'm also really looking forward to the time trial. It will be a special moment, and above all I want to enjoy it. Whatever result comes from it, I'll leave that to my legs."