Ellen van Dijk

When it comes to powerhouses in the women’s peloton, no one quite compares to Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek). The Dutchwoman is a time trial specialist - she’s a three-time world champion in the discipline - but can also often be seen putting her big engine to use in support of her teammates, pulling on the front of the peloton or pulling back a breakaway.

She’s not a rider to pigeonhole, though, as she can use her strengths for plenty of other things too. She won the Tour of Flanders in 2014, and has won the Fryslân Tour no fewer than five times, using her ability on the flat to really pull out an advantage in the flatter stage races. At 36, she is a real veteran of the sport, having ridden for Specialized Lululemon, Boels Dolmans and Sunweb across her 15-year senior career.

In 2023, Van Dijk took time away to have her first child, but has pinpointed the Paris 2024 Olympics as her main goal on return. At the end of 2023, Van Dijk announced that her fitness upon return to training had exceeded expectations, and with that in mind, her return to racing would come in March at the Vuelta Extremadura.