Van Agt to race Strade Bianche following her debut in Valencia
Eva van Agt will start in the Strade Bianche Donne on Saturday. Two weeks ago, the rider of Team Jumbo-Visma Women made her debut for the team in Valencia. In Tuscany, she will start her classic season. Van Agt is looking forward to the race, which she watched as an amateur in front of the TV last year.
In her first few months with the team, 25-year-old Van Agt says she has been well received by her teammates and staff. “There is a very open and pleasant atmosphere here. I can say what I want, and everyone is willing to help me.” She also experienced this during her first race in Valencia. “The first race with a new team like this always takes some getting used to, but it was an excellent start. It is a beautiful course with wide roads and a nice peloton.”
Van Agt appreciates riding with experienced colleagues like Coryn Labecki and Riejanne Markus. “In Valencia, I rode in the lead-out in front of Riejanne. She was always coaching me to keep my position in the peloton. It is amazing to observe how much easier it is to advance in the race when you work as a team.”
"The first months with the team went very well, everyone is willing to help me"
Labecki is the leader in Italy and is aiming for a good result. “Coryn has long been a member of the peloton. I can learn a lot from her. At Strade, course knowledge is crucial. The tips I get from Coryn will certainly contribute to the result”, said Van Agt.
The 136-kilometre hilly race includes no fewer than eight gravel sections. The Jumbo-Visma riders will cover more than 31 kilometres on the white roads of Tuscany. The Strade Bianche is well-known for its grueling climbs in the final, in addition to its gravel sections. The riders will first approach the steep Le Tolfe and then head for the finish in Siena’s legendary Piazza del Campo.
“I don’t know what to expect on Saturday. I only know the track from television. All those gravel sections usually produce beautiful images. One thing I know for sure is that it will be super tough. I want to contribute to a good positioning of our team for the final. This weekend, the weather will play a very important role. Dry or wet gravel roads make a huge difference”, Van Agt says.
"I don’t know what to expect on Saturday, I only know the track from television"
The rider finished her first kilometres in the professional peloton a year ago. For Van Agt, riding her first classic in the WorldTour is like a dream come true: “I would never have dared to imagine competing in this race a year ago. It’s amazing what I’m going through. I participated in the Tour de France Women’s ride last summer, and now I am a part of such a big team. And I am at the start of this top classic, which is awesome!”
The rider will concentrate on the Flemish one-day races after the race in Italy. “I have no experience with them and think they’re difficult. I can, however, also develop well in smaller races like the Ronde de Mouscron. I intend to compete in the historic Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Vuelta at the end of spring after that. These are my main goals for this year, which is all about learning and gaining experience.”
Van Agt will be joined by teammates Labecki, Markus, Karlijn Swinkels, Amber Kraak and Teuntje Beekhuis.
