The Dutch cyclist has almost won everything possible from Olympic Gold to UCI Road World Championships in a career that has spanned over several years.
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Anna van der Breggen is the symbol of consistency in women’s cycling. With multiple global titles, Breggen, 30, was undoubtedly one of the riders of her generation. In a career that has witnessed many ups and downs, she has always found a way to maintain her form. With the Dutch cyclist announcing her intention to retire at the end of the 2021 season, she will be looking to bow out in style.
It was nine years ago when Breggen turned professional. It was in the same year (2012), she won the Tour de Bretagne Feminin, the time trial at the Tour Feminin en Limousin, and the Gold in the women’s under-23 time-trialing event at the European championships. After joining the Rabo–Liv team for the 2014 season, she began to reach her maximum potential.
Her 2014 season came to an abrupt ending when she broke her pelvis at the UCI Road World Championships, Spain. The Belgian’s major breakthrough finally arrived when she won the general classification at the 2015 Giro d’Italia Femminile. The surprise triumph made her a global star in no time.
Her amazing year continued to be extra special when she won the second edition of La Course by Le Tour de France on the Champs-Elysees. She also secured the Silver medals in both the individual time trial and the road race. Breggen culminated the year with a second-place finish at the UCI Road World Cup.
Her upward trajectory continued in 2016. In the Rio Olympics, van der Breggen overcame her rivals in a thrilling finish to bag the Gold in the women’s road race. She further won the Bronze medal in the individual time trial. Her Olympic success was rewarded with her being knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Later that year, she also became the European road race champion.
She went on to win several other accolades, including the Giro d’Italia on two more occasions. In 2017, she famously won all three Ardennes classics races in one week. To top it off Breggen won both the Individual Time Trial and the Road Race in the 2020 UCI World Championships.
Breggen’s illustrious career saw her win almost everything possible at the global stage. After expressing her desire to retire at the end of the 2021 season, the international cycling circuit will undoubtedly miss her presence. The Belgian will always be fondly remembered as one of the greatest ever cyclist.
