Mischa Bredewold succeeds Lorena Wiebes as European champion after 10km

Team SD Worx (Netherlands) - Press Release: "It feels like I'm dreaming". The European championships mark a wonderful end to the crazy road season for Team SD Worx. The European champion will also ride with the Dutch World team next year. Mischa Bredewold successfully completed a ten-kilometre solo and triumphed atop the VAM mountain, ahead of her teammates at Team SD Worx Lorena Wiebes (silver) and Lotte Kopecky (bronze). "I can't believe it. It feels unreal that I take the European title," Bredewold responded enthusiastically.

At 10 kilometres from the finish, Mischa Bredewold put the European championship in the decisive fold. "It was raining attacks. As a Dutch team, we wanted to make the race hard. As a result, I was in attack mode. Actually, the plan was not to make another solo attack in the last lap, but I saw a good moment and went for it. For a moment it crossed my mind that this was not the plan, but I reasoned that my teammates did not have to do the work because of my attack. I thought they would come over me on VAM Mountain, so I tried to cycle up as hard as I could. I knew that then the others would have to close the gap to me, so that my Dutch teammates could then use me as a springboard or lead-out. When I reached the cobbles, I heard that I had 10 seconds left. I looked back and didn't see anyone. At that moment came the realisation that maybe I could take the title," Bredewold said. 

"This means a huge amount to me. Last year was really difficult at times. I have no words for the fact that I have taken such a big step this season and am already so far along in my development. It feels like I am living in a haze. I don't realise yet that I have won the European title. This is a dream. It is simply bizarre that I am now European champion."