Team Liv-Plantur have announced that former world TT champion Ellen van Dijk (NED) has signed with the team for the next two years. The recent fourth placed finisher in the Olympic time trial in Rio de Janeiro has achieved impressive results to date, with 28 professional wins, the highlights of which are a stage of the Giro Rosa, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the overall Boels Ladies Tour 2013, overall Ladies Tour of Qatar, and two overall victories at the Energiewacht Tour, 2013 and 2016.
Strong in tough one-day races, classics, and stage races, van Dijk is also one of the world’s best time trialists. Together with the long-term contracts with talents Floortje Mackaij (NED), Sabrina Stultiens (NED), Leah Kirchmann (CAN), and recent signing Lucinda Brand (NED), the future looks bright for the team as it aims to step up and become one of the top teams in the Women’s WorldTour.
Van Dijk is pleased to be able to announce the signing, saying: “I am very excited about my move to Team Liv-Plantur. It’s the opportunity I was looking for, since the team has, and shows, great ambition to grow. I want to contribute to that growth and to develop myself accordingly with the chances I will have.”
“The team is attractive in its professional way of working and solid structure. We will have a great mix of talent and experienced riders and this is a great motivation for me to join.”
Coach Hans Timmermans added: “Ellen is an absolutely world-class rider and we are proud to sign her. In our talks it was immediately clear that we were a good match. She wants to be important to a team and for us teamwork comes above everything else.”
“In Ellen we have an excellent TT specialist, and classics rider which makes our team a lot stronger. She values our philosophy and expertise that we have in the team and we think this will be the recipe for success, and grow towards being one of the leading teams in women’s cycling.”
