“I’m really looking forward to the last race of the season,” Nooijen begins. “It’s the kind of race where many scenarios are possible. We’re starting with a strong team, which gives us the opportunity to race aggressively. On top of that, we also have Nienke (Veenhoven) as a sprinter to fall back on.”

Sports director Van Emden also has high expectations for the Belgian season finale. “It’s a beautiful race with a challenging profile. We don’t have a designated leader at the start, but overall we have a very strong selection. Hopefully, that will allow us to make the race exciting.”

With that strong line-up, the Dutchman has only one goal in mind: fighting for the win. “With this team we can race attractively, and that’s what will be needed to win. Our aim is to get one or more riders into a winning position, and from there we’ll go all-in for victory.”

Nooijen, who recently impressed with a fifth place in her debut at the European Time Trial Championships, shares her director’s view. “We’re riding for the win. We have several riders who can be played out for victory, so we’ll give it everything to end the season on a high. Hopefully I can carry the good feeling from the European Championships into this race.”

Should the black-and-yellow squad deliver a strong performance in Binche-Chimay-Binche, Van Emden believes it would be the crowning touch on a remarkable season. “It’s been a fantastic year. We won the Tour de France—there’s nothing bigger than that. On top of that, our riders have continued to develop well, which has made us stronger across the board.”

Nooijen, who was part of the Tour de France line-up, also reflects with satisfaction. “I’m proud of the level I’ve reached after my recovery. That came through hard work. I’ve raced in some beautiful events and achieved strong results, while also making big steps in my development.”

That development is something the 24-year-old hopes to build on next year. “By trusting the process and the plan we have in place, I hope to keep improving next season. I want to become better and stronger. This year has shown me again that hard work pays off. That’s exactly what I’ll keep doing.”

Alongside Nooijen, the six-rider Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women squad for Binche-Chimay-Binche also includes Nienke Veenhoven, Eva van Agt, Sophie von Berswordt, Margaux Vigié, and Imogen Wolff.