Ellen van Dijk is the new Dutch time trial champion, finishing the 25.8 kilometre course in Bergen-op-Zoom with a time of 33 minutes and 15 seconds. The European time-trial champion beat Anna van der Breggen (Boels – Dolmans Cycling Team) into second by 6″ with Van Dijk’s Team Sunweb team-mate Lucinda Brand in third at 13″.

Van Dijk said: “I’m super happy to finally take the Dutch title again. I was very close for the last couple of years, but it’s been five years since I last took it. The competition in the Netherlands is super high and a podium at the Nationals can be the same as a podium at the Worlds as well. That’s why this title means a lot to me.

“The course suited me well with long straights and I had great coaching from the car and in the last 3 kilometres my boyfriend shouted me to the line which made it really special. It was great to stand on the podium together with Lucinda, and also Floortje had a very good time trial. It shows how advanced this discipline is within the team and how high our level is at the moment.”

Team Sunweb coach Adriaan Helmantel said: “This was our first big time trial goal for this year and it’s always hard to be a competition here with a strong field, such as the world- and Olympic champion. She delivered and she won after her mind and body were completely in sync and focused on the plan. We started really fast and then brought it back on the last part which worked out really well. She was really tight on the corners and of course her strength is on the long straights. She was like a machine and it’s great to see this effort rewarded with the win.”

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