It has never been harder to make it to the top level in women's cycling. The number of Women's World Tour (WWT) events has doubled over the past decade there are 25 this year, including the inaugural Tour de France Femmes. To get into the WWT peloton, never mind win races, a rider needs to be truly exceptional. So how did Anna van der Breggen rack up no fewer than 62 professional wins over her career?
The Dutch rider, who retired last year, is one of the most decorated riders of her generation - twice world champion on the road and Olympic road race champion in 2016. Van der Breggen's career developed in parallel with the women's peloton; as the competition grew fiercer, she just kept winning. She is, without doubt, one of the greatest road cyclists ever.
Keen not to lose her extraordinary racing nous, van der Breggen's old team SD Worx has kept her on as sports director. In the same spirit, I wanted to find out what fitness wisdom she accrued over her career, to share with Cycling Weekly readers. The 31-yearold agreed to meet with me at a recent SD Worx training camp in Calpe, Spain, for a face-to-face conversation about training, performance and generally how to stay on top form season after season.
Accept the challenge, then give it your all
Denne historien er fra March 24, 2022-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
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Denne historien er fra March 24, 2022-utgaven av CYCLING WEEKLY.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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CLASSIC BIKE - JOHNNY BERRY
Johnny be good at making beautiful lightweight bikes
UK SCENE - WUNDERKIND HUDSON WINS YORKSHIRE CX
Newly crowned junior hill-climb champ shows his versatility by winning round seven on the mud
WATT WORKS FOR ME TADEJ POGAČAR
The man himself - subject of this special issue - explains the key performance changes behind his record-breaking year
11 WAYS TO POG-UP YOUR PLAN
Tadej Pocačar's performance is out of reach but you can adapt his training to raise your game. Chris Marshall-Bell consults the experts to find out how
Why do modern aero bikes look less aero?
Are today's aero bikes really faster, or is marketing just getting better? Joe Baker investigates...
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
An Olympic year is always special and the cycling season once again delivered a year of highs and lows, from Pogi's triple to Katie Archibald's pre-Olympic trip
MEET THE PARENTS
What made Tadej Pogačar the phenomenon he is today? Chris Marshall-Bell went to Slovenia to meet his mum and dad, Mirko and Marjeta
HALF MAN HALF GOAT
Tadej Pogačar may have had a phenomenal season, but has he done enough to cement his status as the greatest of all time? Chris Marshall-Bell weighs the arguments for and against
Lefevere cashes in his chips and leaves cycling management
The news that Patrick Lefevere will step down as Quick Step boss marks the end of an era, after 22 years in charge
Mathieu van der Poel weighs up skipping Tour de France
Dutchman hints at missing Tour in favour of mtb Worlds bid, reports Tom Thewlis from Dénia, Spain
